MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Women's Unit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Minister for Women what budgetary provision has been made for the cost of the Women's Unit in the first financial year of its existence.

Patricia Hewitt: The Women's Unit was created in 1998. Its budget for the first financial year of its existence (1998–99) was £1,111,897. The unit was renamed the Women and Equality Unit following last year's general election in order to recognise its new policy responsibilities across the United Kingdom for gender equality, co-ordination of sexual orientation policy and its sponsorship of the Equal Opportunities commission.

Women's Unit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on how the responsibilities of the Women's Unit differ from the responsibilities of the departmental Ministers for Women.

Patricia Hewitt: In my role as Minister for Women and supported by the Women and Equality Unit, I work closely with Cabinet colleagues, other Government Departments and Number 10 in order to ensure that the Government can bring about practical improvements to women's lives that benefit society as a whole. There are no Ministers for Women assigned to individual Government Departments.

Carers

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Minister for Women what plans she has to make representations to the Department for Work and Pensions to secure improved arrangements for carers.

Patricia Hewitt: In autumn 2000 the Government announced a package of measures to enhance the current social security provision for carers, worth more than £500 million over a three year period. Two of the measures were implemented in April last year. The invalid care allowance (ICA) earnings limit was increased from £50 to £72 per week and the carer premium paid through the income related benefits was increased from £14.15 to £24.40.
	On 17 December 2001, the Department for Work and Pensions laid a draft regulatory reform order before Parliament. If accepted, this will give those aged over 65 the right to claim invalid care allowance for the first time; will provide for the extension of entitlement to ICA for up to eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for; and will change the name of the benefit to carer's allowance.
	I have no plans to make any representations for further change.

Devolved Responsibilities

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Minister for Women which matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament her office has involvement in.

Patricia Hewitt: The Women and Equality Unit supports the Ministers for Women in helping to deliver the Government's key priorities. Its aim is to bring about measurable improvements in the position of women which benefit society across the United Kingdom. It works on specific issues on a project basis alongside Number 10 and central Government Departments. Current priorities include helping women to balance their lives at home and work, closing the pay gap, developing policies which help women who want to return to work and the delivery of high quality health and education public services for women. It also has responsibility across the UK for policy and legislation on gender equality and sexual orientation and sponsors the Equal Opportunities Commission as well as ensuring the United Kingdom fulfils its international obligations and raises the profile of women's issues in the EU.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Empty Properties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) her Department, (ii) her agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which she has had responsibility in each of the last four years.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department of Trade and Industry and its agencies have not had any empty freehold properties in any of the last four years. However, the estimated annual costs and total value of empty freehold properties owned by DTI non-departmental public bodies and public corporations for the same period are shown in the tables:
	
		
			 Status/year Empty freehold properties  Running costs (£) Estimated market value (£) 
		
		
			 NDPBs(1)
			 1998 59 54,461.78 2,583,366.00 
			 1999 29 25,106.50 1,290,675.00 
			 2000 24 50,874.52 2,338,000.00 
			 2001 20 45,655.83 1,210,000.00 
			 
			  Other public bodies  
			 Consignia plc(2) — — — 
			 BNFL plc
			 1998 0 0 0 
			 1999 2 35,000.00 1,100,000.00 
			 2000 3 55,000.00 2,100,000.00 
			 2001 3 55,000.00 2,100,000.00 
		
	
	(1) Regional development agencies (RDAs) are included under NDPBs. RDAs own significant property estates as part of its role as a regeneration agency. The land will be released and sold over a period of many years. RDAs do not own any other non-operational land and buildings.
	(2) Consignia do not maintain central records of the number and costs of empty properties for the last four years. To provide the information requested would be at disproportionate cost. However, as of September 2000 there was a total estate of 2,775 properties of which 3.38 per cent. was vacant by number, and 1.5 per cent. vacant by value. In December 2001 there was a total estate of 2,741 of which 2.44 per cent. was vacant by number, and 1.62 per cent. vacant by value.

Departmental Expenditure (Publications)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the expenditure of her Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last four years.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's expenditure on newspapers, magazines and periodicals for the years requested was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 518,700 
			 1998–99 647,233 
			 1999–2000 581,044 
			 2000–01 626,862 
		
	
	This includes expenditure on national daily and Sunday newspapers, regional newspapers, mass circulation magazines and journals, and academic periodicals. It also includes expenditure on annual publications, in particular reference works that would not normally be considered as periodicals. It is not possible to exclude such annual publications from the figures, except at disproportionate cost.

MSP Exhibitions

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support has been provided by Trade Partners UK, or its predecessors, to assist military, security and police companies (a) to attend and (b) to exhibit at MSP exhibitions since 1 May 1997; and if she will list the (i) companies, (ii) exhibitions attended and (iii) sums of money involved.

Patricia Hewitt: TPUK provided support to UK companies to attend and exhibit at police, fire and security exhibitions under the terms of the Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad scheme (and its predecessor Trade Fair Support Scheme) at the following exhibitions during this period:
	
		
			 Date Event Town Number of firms Support (£) 
		
		
			 September 1997 ASIS St. Louis 7 21,310 
			 September 1997 IDEF Ankara 8 67,850 
			 September 1997 Sitech Berlin Berlin 8 16,110 
			 November 1997 A+A Dusseldorf 17 33,078 
			 March 1998 Securex South Africa Johannesburg 12 23,973 
			 April 1998 MIPS Moscow 14 48,049 
			 April 1998 DSA Kuala Lumpur 34 214,682 
			 May 1998 CBW Protection Stockholm 14 33,862 
			 June 1998 Eurosatory Paris 20 92,246 
			 October 1998 Security Essen Essen 38 46,926 
			 November 1998 Fire Asia Hong Kong 30 98,728 
			 February 1999 Shot Show Atlanta 16 38,325 
			 March 1999 Securex South Africa Johannesburg 10 17,627 
			 March 1999 ISC Expo/Las Vegas Las Vegas 8 31,650 
			 March 1999 IDEX UAE Abu Dhabi 35 240,792 
			 March 1999 Securex Poland Poznan 12 1,000 
			 April 1999 LAD—Latin America Defentech Rio de Janeiro 24 73,442 
			 October 1999 Security Asia Singapore 16 57,679 
			 October 1999 Sitech Berlin Berlin 8 14,574 
			 November 1999 Exposec Sa~o Paulo 7 30,648 
			 November 1999 Milipol—France Paris 15 31,935 
			 January 2000 Intersec Dubai 28 53,914 
			 February 2000 Securex Poland Poznan 10 25,651 
			 March 2000 ISC Expo/Las Vegas Las Vegas 7 18,400 
			 June 2000 Securitex—Hong Kong Hong Kong 12 39,084 
			 June 2000 Eurosatory Paris 25 45,189 
			 June 2000 Interschutz Augsburg 36 75,798 
			 July 2000 Copex—Asia Singapore 10 21,578 
			 July 2000 ASE Miami 7 17,294 
			 October 2000 Security Essen Essen 37 64,052 
			 October 2000 Euronaval Paris 26 54,870 
			 November 2000 Expoprotection Paris 32 52,347 
			 November 2000 Exposec Sa~o Paulo 7 30,167 
			 January 2001 Intersec Dubai 25 62,100 
			 February 2001 Securex South Africa Johannesburg 9 32,486 
			 March 2001 IWA Nuremberg 18 23,208 
			 April 2001 MIPS Moscow 6 17,751 
			 April 2001 LAD—Latin America Defentech Rio de Janeiro 18 61,466 
			 May 2001 Imdex Asia Singapore 38 78,896 
			 June 2001 CBW Protection Stockholm 14 36,684 
			 July 2001 ASE Miami 10 27,087 
			 November 2001 Exposec Sa~o Paulo 9 37,300 
			 November 2001 Milipol—France Paris 16 39,541 
			 November 2001 Security Asia Singapore 12 32,200 
			 January 2002 Intersec Dubai 25 62,100 
		
	
	The provisions of the Data Protection Act preclude the release of information about individual firms.

Inward Investment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding her Department's work to encourage inward investment to the UK.

Nigel Griffiths: Government Ministers take every opportunity to promote the UK as the place to do business.
	Invest UK, as part of its overall promotional effort to attract inward investment to the UK, is in continuous dialogue, with the involvement of Ministers, with both prospective and existing investors to help them in all aspects of locating and doing business here. My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Investment holds regular breakfast meetings with existing inward investors to discuss specific concerns that they may have.
	Ministers are also regularly involved in inward investment events overseas. During a recent visit to Japan, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry hosted a dinner for investors and also met members of the automotive manufacturers and components suppliers in support of their efforts in retaining and making further investment in the UK. In January this year on a two-day visit to Toronto, my noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Investment called on existing major investors and multipliers and held media interviews to promote inward investment. On a visit this month, I shall be hosting an inward investment dinner during my attendance at the largest ICT (information and communications technologies) conference taking place in India this year.
	These actions have contributed to the UK retaining its position as the top destination for inward investment in Europe as confirmed by the recently published UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) figures on foreign investment flows.

Employment Tribunals

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people from the Warrington, North constituency were members of employment tribunals or the Employment Appeals Tribunal (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The number of people from the Warrington, North constituency who are currently members of the Employment Tribunals is as follows:
	Chairmen (appointed by the Lord Chancellor)—None
	Lay members (appointed by the Secretary of State—None.
	In 1997, no Employment Tribunal Chairmen resided in the Warrington, North constituency. Historic data for 1997 concerning lay members are not available without incurring disproportionate cost. However, using information available on serving members who were due for re-appointment in 1998, one lay member is recorded as residing in the Warrington, North constituency at that time.
	The number of people from the Warrington, North constituency who are currently members of the Employment Appeal Tribunal is as follows:
	Judges (nominated by the Lord Chancellor)—None
	Lay members (appointed by Her Majesty on joint recommendation of the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State)—One.
	In 1997, the corresponding figures for the Employment Appeal Tribunal were:
	Judges (nominated by the Lord Chancellor)—None
	Lay members (appointed by Her Majesty on joint recommendation of the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State)—One.

Humber Pilots Ltd.

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason two officials from her Department visited the offices of Humber Pilots Ltd. on 18 January.

Nigel Griffiths: Two officials from my Department's Radiocommunications Agency visited the office of Humber Pilots Ltd. on 18 January 2002 in connection with radio usage under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.

Clothing/Textile Industries

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is her Department's policy (a) to adhere to the timetable agreed at the Uruguay Round for the phasing out of MFA restrictions and (b) not to accelerate the liberalisation process.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are fully committed to the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) to phase out Multi Fibre Arrangement (MFA) import restrictions. We also fully support Commissioner Lamy's bilateral market access initiative offering liberalisation of textile and clothing trade with the EU over and above that required in the ATC in return for improved access to the textile and clothing markets of supplier countries.

Employee Pension Entitlements

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims were made by those seeking part-time employee pension entitlements following a ruling in May 2000 by the European Court of Justice; how many have been settled; and when she expects all outstanding cases to be dealt with.

Alan Johnson: The Employment Tribunals Service database (RITAS) does not identify these particular claims from any other claims brought under equal pay or sex discrimination legislation. It is therefore not possible to give exact figures for claims brought following the ECJ ruling in May 2000 or which claims brought since then have settled.
	However, manual records indicate that since May 2000 approximately 19,000 claims have been made to an employment tribunal following the ECJ ruling. In the same period approximately 11,000 claims were disposed of prior to a hearing including those settled leaving over 51,000 outstanding claims.
	The majority of claims are against public sector employers and are stayed awaiting the result of test cases which are scheduled to be heard between 24 June and 19 July 2002. The findings of these test cases will be applicable to those stayed cases.

ECGD

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the net cash outflow was from the Export Credits Guarantee Department attributable to defence exports in the financial years (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 broken down by (i) cost of interest rate support, (ii) claims paid, (iii) interest paid and (iv) operating expenses proportionate to defence related business.

Patricia Hewitt: The following table details claims paid and premium earned for the financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02 to date in respect of defence related business. The cost of interest rate support has been estimated on the proportion of ECGD credit business constituted by defence related business. As for the further information my hon. Friend requests on operating expenses, I am afraid ECGD does not hold its records on a basis which would enable it to provide the level of details he has requested. It would involve disproportionate costs to produce it.
	
		£ million 
		
			  2000–01 2001–02(3) 
		
		
			 Premium earned 38 3 
			 Claims paid 181 86 
			 Estimate of interest rate support 4 7 
		
	
	(3) Provisional figures, which may change considerably throughout the rest of the year.
	The claims figures relate mostly to business with Indonesia that has been rescheduled and which ECGD expects to recover in the fullness of time. These claims are in respect of business supported before the years indicated.

ECGD

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the level of Export Credits Guarantee Department coverage for arms sales was in the financial years, (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02.

Patricia Hewitt: According to ECGD's published annual reports the level of ECGD support for defence business in each of the years was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 763 
			 1998–99 1,700 
			 1999–2000 1,583 
			 2000–01 2,735 
		
	
	The level of ECGD support for defence business in 2001–02 amounts to £31 million up to 31 December 2001.

Oil Fabrication Industry

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the prospects for the downstream fabrication industry over the next five years.

Brian Wilson: As my hon. Friend is aware, overall demand for fabrication for the UKCS is unlikely to return to the levels seen in previous years.
	Sophisticated field development techniques using floating and subsea technologies have largely replaced heavy fixed platforms. UK Industry has acknowledged this and is presently reconfiguring itself to tackle the new market conditions.
	The Department is actively engaged in assisting companies, large and small, to increase their competitiveness by adopting best practice from around the world and particularly from the Gulf of Mexico.
	I am confident that the industry will respond well to these challenges.

Oil Fabrication Industry

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met (a) UKOOA and (b) LASCOF to discuss the future for oil fabrication.

Brian Wilson: The information is as follows:
	(a) The future of the oil fabrication industry is a regular agenda item at the quarterly meetings of the cross industry forum PILOT which I chair. UKOOA member companies are fully engaged with this process.
	(b) On 14 December I had a very constructive meeting with LASCOF in Glasgow.

BP Clair Field

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what economic assessment she has made of a bid by a British company for a platform for BP's Clair field in terms of employment and economic activity.

Brian Wilson: Industrial benefits from BP's £650 million investment in Clair include approximately 1,000 direct jobs—850 of these during the construction phase and the balance offshore.
	There will also be a considerable knock-on effect inducing activity and employment further down the supply chain.

BP Clair Field

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the timescale involved for the granting of the contract to build the platform for the BP Clair field.

Brian Wilson: While the timing of contract awards is a commercial matter for BP, we understand that the analysis of tenders for the major structural elements of Clair will be carried out during February and March.

BP Clair Field

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to promote British oil fabrication yards in their bid for downstream work from the BP Clair field.

Brian Wilson: As my hon. Friend is aware, I regularly meet BP's senior management. On several occasions I have emphasised the importance of Clair to the UK's oil and gas industry, and that UK fabrication yards are anxious to demonstrate their global competitiveness.
	I also met representatives of Clair prequalified fabricators in November in Aberdeen to encourage them to deliver the competitive bids I know they are capable of.

Consignia

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the National Audit Office report on Consignia.

Patricia Hewitt: On 24 February the NAO published a report to Parliament entitled "Opening the Post: PostComm and postal services—the risks and opportunities". The Government will consider the detail of that report carefully and will comment where appropriate.

Consignia

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has commissioned on the effects of (a) rural post-offices, (b) post-buses and (c) directly employed Consignia staff on economic activity by constituency in each year since 1999.

Patricia Hewitt: No such research has been commissioned. Advice received at the end of last year from the Postal Services Commission on transitional assistance to the rural post office network is under consideration. In addition, the Government have made available a £2 million fund to support volunteer and community initiatives to maintain or reopen post office facilities in rural areas where traditional services would otherwise close.

Consignia

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list those businesses overseas which have been acquired by Consignia over the last five years, together with the price paid.

Patricia Hewitt: Consignia plc has advised that it has acquired overseas companies as listed in the table.
	
		Consignia plc: overseas acquisitions
		
			 Company Consignia shareholding (%) Total investment £ million 
		
		
			 CityMail Group 11.2 5 
			 Citipost 100 28 
			 Crie Group 100 15 
			 Der Kurier 100 9 
			 Extand SA 100 97 
			 German Parcel 100 308 
			 GP Austria 100 14 
			 NPD 100 72 
			 Pakke-Trans 100 20 
			 Williames 100 10 
			 CityMail Sweden 67 23 
			 Domberger Paket Dienst 100 45 
			 DGE S.p.A 49 per cent./Agone 49/100 29 
			 DGE S.p.A 51 per cent. 51 10 
			 Szybka Pazcka 25 7 
			 GP Slovenia 100 1 
			 GP Czechoslovakia 100 1 
			 Stafetten 100 2 
			 G3WW 24.5 35 
			 M Express 100 1 
			 FDS 100 5 
			 CFI Ltd. 100 8 
		
	
	Note:
	The numbers quoted above are total investment. As such they are based on acquisition price/transaction costs/debt assumed/capex and taxations i.e. they reflect the total planned investment in the projects by Consignia.

Enron

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the ultimate parent company of Wainstones Plc is Enron.

Brian Wilson: In the last accounts filed with Companies House by Wainstones Power Ltd., the ultimate parent company is given as Xcel Energy, formerly known as Northern States Power Company and incorporated in the USA.

Space Research

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what measures have been introduced since 1997 to assist the British National Space Centre and the European Space Programme;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the British National Space Centre and its latest projects

Patricia Hewitt: My noble Friend the Minister for Science and Innovation, announced on 15 November 2001 that the United Kingdom had subscribed £380 million over the next 10 years to the space-related research programmes of the European Space Agency. Details of this and other major announcements since 1997 by the British National Space Centre in relation to the European Space Agency are listed in the table.
	
		
			  Date of announcement Financial commitment in £million   Programmes 
		
		
			 November 2001 £4.68 over six years ARTES 1 (satellite telecommunications) 
			  £49.85 over six years ARTES 3 (satellite telecommunications) 
			  £35 over five years ARTES 4 (satellite telecommunications) 
			  £12.6 over two years InfoTerra/TerraSar (operational earth observation) 
			  £7.23 over five years Global Monitoring for Environment and Security 
			  £147.1 over 10 years Living Planet programme (Earth Observation Envelope Programme) 
			  £130 over four years Astronomy and planetary science including new space exploration programme Aurora 
			  £1.4 over 3 years Ariane Infrastructure 
			  £71 over five years European Space Agency general budget 
			 October 2001 £1 National programme—Earth Observation instrumentation development 
			 December 1999 £1.4 over three years EMIR-2X (microgravity and life sciences) 
			 August 1999 £10.5 over three years ARTES (satellite telecommunications) 
			  £5 Beagle 2 (UK project to be launched on a European Space Agency mission) 
			 May 1999 £128 over four years Astronomy and planetary science programme 
			  £56 over four years European Space Agency general budget 
			  £8 Galileo definition stage 
			  £4.5 over five years ARTES 1 and 4 (satellite telecommunications) 
			  £67 million over 3 years Living Planet programme (Earth Observation Envelope Programme) 
			 September 1998 £5 Satellite navigation 
			  £4 Living Planet programme (Earth Observation Envelope Programme) 
			  £1.65 ENVISAT data processing/archiving 
			 April 1998 £2 General Support Technology Programme 
			  £2 ARTES 4 (satellite telecommunications) 
			  £0.5 SMART 1 (technology research) 
			 March 1998 £6.7 over three years ARTES 3 (satellite telecommunications) 
			  £8.1 over two years ERS 2 operations (earth observation) 
			  £6.4 over five years Earth Observation preparatory programme

Space Research

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent meetings she has had with European colleagues on space research and exploration.

Patricia Hewitt: In recent months I have not attended any meetings with European colleagues at which space research and exploration was specifically discussed. However, my noble Friend the Minister for Science and Innovation attended the Ministerial Council of the European Space Agency on 14–15 November 2001, which the United Kingdom hosted in Edinburgh. At this meeting it was agreed the UK would subscribe to the study phase of a potential European programme for exploration of the solar system, the Aurora programme. The Minister also attended the October Research Council which discussed the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security initiative, and the December Research Council where some conclusions on space policy were adopted. More recently he attended a bilateral with the Spanish Science Minister at which the subject of the European global satellite navigation system (Galileo) was raised.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Criminal Justice

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the independent cross-community and lay element incorporated into the complaints mechanism available for juveniles in the criminal justice system is; what representations he has received concerning the compliance of this mechanism with the UN Rules on the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of Their Liberty; what the terms of reference are of his review of the complaints mechanisms and induction material; and if he will place the relevant documents in the Library.

Des Browne: Existing mechanisms for dealing with complaints within Juvenile Justice Centres are operated by an independent Juvenile Justice Board, as required by the Secretary of State. These arrangements, which are fully explained to all young people entering custody, include child protection protocols, planned and unannounced inspections by the Social Services Inspectorate and an Independent Representation Scheme provided by the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO).
	The existing arrangements are broadly in accordance with the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty, and as such no representations have been received by the Secretary of State in relation to their compliance. However, in line with the recommendations made in the Criminal Justice Review, they are being reviewed by a development team, established by the Juvenile Justice Board, as part of a much wider brief to develop new operating policies and procedures in preparation for the closure of Lisnevin and the move to a single centre on the existing Rathgael site.
	The development team's remit is currently in draft form and will be placed in the Library when it is finalised.

Criminal Justice

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications have been received by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year since its creation; what the proportion of outcomes were; and what the average time taken for each stage in the processing of an application was compared to the equivalent times for cases in England and Wales.

Des Browne: The following table indicates the number of applications received each year since the Commission commenced operations.
	
		
			 Year All applications Northern Ireland applications 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,382 28 
			 1998–99 1,037 8 
			 1999–2000 777 14 
			 2000–01 799 9 
			 2001–02(4) 610 5 
			  
			 Totals 4,605 64 
		
	
	(4) To 31 December 2001
	The status of the Northern Ireland cases at 1 January 2002 is: eight cases have been referred back to the courts, the Commission has decided not to refer 39 cases back to the courts, 11 cases are currently under review and six cases await review.
	Information is not readily available on the average time taken by the Commission at each stage of it processes. However, the Commission handles all cases, regardless of their origin, according to the same set of procedures and priorities.

Criminal Justice

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Criminal Justice Board established a Public Information and Education Sub- Group; who comprises this group; what its terms of reference are; on what dates the sub-group has met; and what its work programme is for 2002–03.

Des Browne: The Public Information Working Group, comprising representatives from the six statutory criminal justice organisations, was established on 6 June 2001.
	Since then the group has met on 6 September, 24 October and 27 November. A work programme for 2002–03 is under development.
	I have arranged for a copy of the terms of reference for the Working Group to be placed in the Library of the House.

Theft and Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional security measures are planned by his Department to deter and detect theft and fraud.

John Reid: Policies and physical security measures relating to theft and fraud are considered adequate at present. However, they are kept under review and updated as and when the need arises.

Departmental Salary Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit in 2001–02 will be accounted for by salary costs and pension contributions.

John Reid: The proportion of the departmental expenditure limit (excluding NDPBs) in 2001–02 accounted for by salary costs and pension contributions is as follows:
	Total departmental expenditure limit—£1,056,836,000
	Total salary and pension costs—£113,533,000
	Proportion—10.74 per cent. (approx.)
	This is an estimate, as exact figures will not be known until the end of this financial year.

Departmental Leave Entitlements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in his Department in each of the last four years.

John Reid: The average annual leave entitlement of staff in my department in each of the last four years was 26 days.

Victims of Terrorism

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been made available to support the victims of terrorist violence in Northern Ireland since 10 April 1998.

Des Browne: In response to Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report, "We Will Remember Them", this Government have thus far allocated £18.25 million specifically to help address the needs of Victims of the Troubles. (See breakdown under heading 'funding for victims').
	Criminal injuries and damage compensation
	In addition, we anticipate that this year alone the bills for criminal injuries and damage compensation to victims of crime in Northern Ireland will be £55 million and £9 million respectively. More than £1.5 billion has been spent in compensation for criminal injuries and damage since 1968–69 (not possible to break these figures down into troubles-related and other crime).
	Devolved Administration's contribution
	The devolved Administration are also committed to addressing the needs of victims and have so far provided £1.6 million as part of a larger package of EU funding of £6.67 million to victims. They are also currently working to put in place a cross-departmental strategy for ensuring that the needs of victims are met through effective, high quality help and services.
	Support initiatives for the security forces
	Government have made available more than £1 million to the George Cross Foundation to mark the sacrifices and honour the achievements of the RUC. (The George Cross Foundation has taken on responsibility for the establishment of a Garden of Remembrance and a new RUC museum).
	Government have established a police fund which aims to bring additional assistance to police officers and their families directly affected as a result of terrorism. From this fund £4.2 million was paid in a tax free, lump sum payment to police widows, widowed prior to November 1982, as a direct result of terrorism.
	The Government have funded the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust (PRRT) to a total of £8.1 million (£4.5 million allocated for three year period in March 1999 and £3.6 million allocated for a further two years, 2002–04). The PRRT was conceived to provide assistance aimed at the rehabilitation of ex-officers who were injured on duty and retraining for those leaving or expected to leave the force.
	Funding for victims
	Since publication of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report "We Will Remember Them" in 1998, over £18.25 million has been made available for victims' initiatives. Funding has so far included:
	£700,000 for a Family Trauma Centre which provides therapeutic service addressing the psychological needs of families and young people.
	£300,000 for an Educational Bursary Pilot Scheme—for individuals whose education was directly affected by the Troubles, 350 people received awards.
	£3 million to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund with a commitment of a further £2 million at a rate of £1 million per year for the next two years.
	The fund has put in place a number of schemes including:
	The Small Grants Scheme
	The Chronic Pain Management Scheme
	The Respite Break Scheme
	The Wheelchair Assessment Scheme
	The Amputee Assessment Scheme
	The Education and Training Scheme
	£225,000 for a Victim Support Grants Scheme (now closed) to assist community groups and voluntary organisations to take forward recommendations in the Bloomfield report.
	£6.1 million core funding for groups who support Victims of the Troubles.
	£500,000 for initiatives in Great Britain including £250,000 for the Legacy Project. This project aims to identify and meet the needs of Victims of the Troubles living in Great Britain.
	£1.5 million over next three years for the development of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation.
	£750,000 to fund the re-introduction of the Small Grants Scheme for victims' groups.
	£1.5 million over next two years to the devolved Administration's Strategy Implementation Fund to help NI Departments fulfil their commitment to addressing victims' needs.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Television Sets

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by her Department in each of the last 24 months; and if she will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases.

Clare Short: My Department has purchased two television sets in the last two years, both digital. These are being installed in our newly-opened public information area, "infoZone", at our 1 Palace street office.
	We have no guidelines specifically on the purchase of televisions.

Burundi

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's aid priorities in Burundi.

Clare Short: DFID does not have extensive developmental links with Burundi. We are seeking to support international efforts to promote an end to conflict and achieve a secure and lasting peace. We are at the same time supporting humanitarian programmes largely through non-governmental channels. In the current financial year we have committed £1 million for support for emergency health and nutrition programmes, and for the promotion of human rights and political dialogue. We envisage increasing this support during 2002. In addition the UK's share of ECHO's £20 million humanitarian budget for Burundi in 2001 was some £4 million. We have also committed £5.175 million for the implementation of a three-year project tackling the pressing problem of HIV/AIDS in Burundi, and have provisionally allocated US$1 million to the proposed Multilateral Debt Trust Fund for this country.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the instances in which her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 2000–01.

Clare Short: During the financial year 2000–01 my Department received 42,171 invoices in respect of goods or services and 40,762 (96.7 per cent.) of these bills were paid promptly. However given the nature of my Department's work and the involvement of our overseas offices in the payment cycle it is more difficult for us to achieve a high level of performance than it is for most other Government Departments.

Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from employees or directors of Ispat International between May 1997 and December 2001; and if she will list them by date and subject.

Clare Short: None.

Goma

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made with the distribution of food to those people in Goma affected by the recent volcanic eruptions.

Clare Short: To date 1,204 tonnes of food have been distributed to people in Goma and surrounding areas affected by the volcanic eruptions. This has met the most urgent needs although the World Food Programme is currently working to improve its capacity to target the most vulnerable. Food monitors are expected to arrive shortly. A further 927 displaced living in the hard-to-reach island of Idjwi are expected to receive their first distribution of food shortly. AAA, a German NGO, is managing the distribution of 23 tonnes of food (beans, maize, oil, salt, sugar). The UK has allocated £2 million to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs, including food.

Rwanda

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made on the state of refugee camps in Rwanda.

Clare Short: The conditions in the camps are not a cause for alarm and improvements are in hand. The Rwandan authorities are co-operating with the effort to improve conditions.
	Prior to the eruption of Nyarigongo on 18 January, there were about 31,000 Congolese, and 500 Burundian refugees in Rwanda. Although many more Congolese came to Rwanda in the immediate aftermath, most of these quickly returned to Congo.
	On 24 January the UN estimated that there were about 11,000 displaced by the eruption remaining in Nkamira and Mudende camps in Rwanda. The UK has provided £250,000 to the British Red Cross, who are responsible for basic services in the camps.

Departmental Secondments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in her Department have been seconded to jobs in the (a) private and (b) public sector in each of the last four years.

Clare Short: The figures requested are as follows:
	
		
			  Private sector Public sector(5) 
		
		
			 1997–98 1 22 
			 1998–99 1 38 
			 1999–2000 1 41 
			 2000–01 1 49 
		
	
	(5) Most staff in this category have been seconded overseas to international development institutions and the European Commission.

Education

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she is making to the IMF on the need to include financing free basic education in the public spending targets they set for developing countries; and if she will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK has been at the forefront of encouraging the IMF to reform their medium term programmes to ensure that these deliver growth and poverty reduction. A key element of the new design of IMF programmes is the undertaking to support pro-poor budgets, which includes protecting and expanding where possible education spending. In recent years the IMF programmes have supported the introduction of free education in several countries, including Uganda and Tanzania.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Wheelchair Access

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will assess the accessibility for persons in wheelchairs of positions for advisers to Ministers in (a) Committee rooms and (b) the Chamber.

Derek Conway: All Committee rooms, including those in Portcullis House, have wide doors and are accessible to wheelchair users. In most rooms, furniture can be moved to provide space for wheelchairs, although manoeuvrability is limited in Committee rooms 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 because of the fixed furniture and fittings. If an adviser using a wheelchair was needed to support a Minister, special arrangements could be made.
	There are no plans to make the Officials' Box in the Chamber accessible to wheelchair users. If a wheelchair- using adviser was required to support a Minister, he or she would be able to do so from the area adjacent to the Officials' Box. A handrail has been fixed in the Officials' Box to assist people with disabilities.

Television Sets

Tim Yeo: To ask the President of the Council how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases.

Robin Cook: The Privy Council Office has bought two analogue television sets during this period, but does not own any digital televisions. No specific guidance has been issued by my Department on the purchase of television sets. Both televisions were purchased from an approved supplier.

Computer Equipment

Andrew Turner: To ask the President of the Council how many installations of computer equipment in hon. Members' offices (a) within the parliamentary estate and (b) elsewhere since the inception of the current scheme remain incomplete; and how many were satisfactorily completed (i) within the timetable agreed with each Member concerned and (ii) by the end of each month including and since July 2001.

Robin Cook: Approximately 1,280 installations have been undertaken since 5 July 2001, just over half of them on the parliamentary estate. 61 are awaiting completion. Many of these have been deferred at the Member's request and await further instructions.
	Satisfaction levels with the new equipment are generally high.
	The number of installations completed during each month since July 2001 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of installations 
		
		
			 July 2001 0 
			 August and September 2001 229 
			 October 2001 315 
			 November 2001 550 
			 December 2001 142 
			 January 2002(6) 44 
			  
			 Total 1,280 
		
	
	(6) Until 28 January.

Computer Equipment

Andrew Turner: To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members have had computer equipment installed in offices (a) within the parliamentary estate and (b) elsewhere since the inception of the current scheme; and of them how many were not Members of the last Parliament.

Robin Cook: 528 Members have had equipment installed since the arrangements for central provision of IT equipment took effect in July. The number of installations to date is 1,280, and just over half of these were on the parliamentary estate. 95 of the Members who have received this equipment were not Members of the last Parliament.

Computer Equipment

Andrew Turner: To ask the President of the Council how many contractors have been retained to install computer equipment in Members' offices (a) within the parliamentary estate and (b) elsewhere since the inception of the current scheme; and what assessment he has undertaken of their effectiveness.

Robin Cook: A third party supplier, Computacenter, provided contractors to install this equipment. I understand that up to 20 individuals were engaged on this task on any given day. A breakdown of their place of work is not readily available.
	Officials monitored the performance of the contractor by means of a system of weekly review. Any concerns were passed on to the contractor for action. We are hopeful that shortcomings experienced in the early months of the scheme have now been rectified and that the contractor is now meeting key targets.

WALES

Golden Jubilee

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 58w.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour and disorder in communities.

John Denham: The Government are taking urgent action to tackle antisocial behaviour and disorder. My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, has already outlined the measures we are taking to increase the effectiveness of antisocial behaviour order (ASBOs). These include proposals to:
	extend the power to apply for ASBOs to the British Transport Police and registered Social Landlords
	introduce an interim ASBO that can be issued prior to a full hearing
	extend the power to make ASBOs to county courts
	allowing ASBOs to 'travel with the person' in circumstances where the behaviour is likely to be repeated elsewhere.
	We are also speeding up the youth justice system as well as bringing in new community sentences for youth offenders such as Final Warnings, Child Safety Orders and Parenting Orders. Additionally, in the Police Reform Bill we propose new powers for the extended police family to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Antisocial Behaviour

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of antisocial behaviour orders in south Wales.

John Denham: South Wales police were granted four ASBOs between April 1999 and September 2001. Applications are in progress in a number of other cases.
	South Wales police have a six-step strategy for dealing with antisocial behaviour, the application for an ASBO is the final step in that strategy. Other measures for dealing with antisocial behaviour include Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs), prosecutions, warning letters, diversion schemes, mediation schemes and multi-agency case conferences.

Antisocial Behaviour

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to help the police tackle antisocial behaviour in small towns and villages.

John Denham: We have introduced a range of measures to tackle antisocial behaviour, which apply equally in all areas of the country. These include antisocial behaviour orders, child curfews and changes to the youth justice system. In addition, we have introduced new community sentences for youth offenders including Reparation Orders, Final Warnings, Child Safety Orders and Parenting Orders. We have also made additional funding available for the reduction of rural crime.

Antisocial Behaviour

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been successfully applied for in the area covered by the Lancashire constabulary.

John Denham: From the introduction of antisocial behaviour orders in April 1999 to the end of September 2001 (the last point to which data are available), 16 orders have been granted to the Lancashire Constabulary.

Zimbabwe

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that those at risk of persecution are not returned to Zimbabwe.

Angela Eagle: All applications for asylum are considered in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary decided on 15 January to suspend removals of unsuccessful asylum seekers to Zimbabwe until after the presidential election is held. We will then assess the country situation and the risks faced by individual returnees and decide whether to resume removals.

Young Offenders

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to tackle persistent youth offending.

David Blunkett: The Government's youth justice reforms include a wide range of measures to deal with persistent young offenders. We have delivered the youth justice pledge by halving the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders; funded the youth justice board's intensive supervision and surveillance programme for the most prolific offenders; provided direct support to address youth street crime in London; and introduced the detention and training order for persistent and more serious young offenders. We are also providing the courts with new powers to remand to secure accommodation for those juveniles who commit offences while on bail.

Young Offenders

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in the juvenile estate provide a pre-release scheme.

Beverley Hughes: All juvenile establishments work with Youth Offending Teams to plan the transfer of the young person into the community phase of the Detention and Training Order. Juvenile establishments plan a young person's release from prison with the young person's community supervising officer and where applicable his/her parents or carers. Release is planned from the start of a sentence through a series of meetings and action plans. A final meeting takes place 10 days before release in order to finalise arrangements for on-going support in the community. The personal officer from the custody setting then attends the first training plan meeting in the community. This ensures that the two parts of the sentence are linked. Sentence planning forms part of this process and is, so far as is possible, tailored to individual needs.

Young Offenders

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders aged 10 to 16 years are in institutions by region according to their home address expressed as (a) a percentage and (b) the total number, ranked in descending order according to percentages for the latest date for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The number and percentage of juveniles (10 to 16-year-olds) detained in secure establishments broken down by home region on 31 December 2001 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Home region Number of juvenile offenders in secure establishments Percentage of total number of juvenile offenders 
		
		
			 North West 230 17.5 
			 West Midlands 203 15.5 
			 London 188 14.3 
			 Yorkshire 171 13.0 
			 East Midlands 120 9.2 
			 South East 97 7.4 
			 Wales 93 7.1 
			 Eastern 84 6.4 
			 South West 69 5.3 
			 North East 56 4.3 
			  
			 Total 1,311 100.0

Cannabis

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on recent changes in policy on prosecution for possession of cannabis.

Bob Ainsworth: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for prosecuting criminal offences. There has been no change in CPS's policy on prosecution of offences for possession of cannabis.

Graffiti

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking against graffiti.

John Denham: Writing graffiti will normally constitute an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Where criminal proceedings are not appropriate, it can also be dealt with through a number of measures designed to address antisocial behaviour, including antisocial behaviour orders.
	Our neighbourhood wardens programme and proposals for community safety officers will help to reduce yobbish behaviour, such as graffiti writing, in our neighbourhoods. We are also providing support through the Youth Justice Board for a range of projects to combat the problem of youth crime, including graffiti.

Crime Detection

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the crime detection rate.

John Denham: In the year ending March 2001, just under 1.25 million recorded crimes were detected. This amounted to 24 per cent. of all recorded crime in England and Wales in 2000–01.
	This figure is much higher for some crimes than for others—for example, 62 per cent. of all crimes of violence against the person were detected. Of that figure, 90 per cent. of homicides and 81 per cent. of attempted murders were detected.
	There are also striking variations in performance at both force and basic command unit (BCU) level. For example, in 2000–01, the detection rate for burglary across thirty comparable urban BCUs varied from 27.7 per cent. to just 5.5 per cent.
	There cannot be any justification for such variable performance in similar parts of the country. That is why the work of the Standards Unit will be so important: it is the means by which we will identify and spread good practice, driving the performance of all forces up to that of the best.

Sex Offences

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase child protection through new sentences for sex offenders.

Keith Bradley: We are looking at tougher determinate sentences for sex offenders that will ensure they stay in prison, up to the full term if necessary, or as long as they continue to present a risk of serious harm to our communities and that they are subject to strict and extended supervision on release.
	In addition the Government are concerned that the law should provide clear and coherent offences that protect all victims of sexual exploitation, especially children and the more vulnerable, with penalties that enable the appropriate punishment of abusers. My Home Office colleagues and I are currently reviewing the existing laws on sex offences with a view to introducing strengthened legislation when parliamentary time allows.

Home Detention and Curfew Orders

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the use of home detention and curfew orders; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Decisions to release prisoners on home detention curfew (HDC) are a matter for indiviual Governors, within the guidance set down by the Prison Service, including a requirement for a rigorous risk assessment. Research undertaken by the Home Office shows that home detention curfew helps prisoners to make the transition between prison and the community. (Home Office Research Study 222, Electronic monitoring of released prisoners and evaluation of the Home Detention Curfew scheme, March 2001). We have asked Governors to make full use of the scheme where they can do so without unacceptable risk to public safety.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has also announced this morning at the Prison Service Conference, his intention to increase the maximum period that a curfewee may spend on HDC from two months to three months. The eligibility criteria, and the risk assessment process will not change.

Police Morale

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the state of police morale.

John Denham: There is no established direct method of measuring the level of morale in the police service.
	We are actively improving the resources of the police so they can play their key part in tackling crime and disorder and improving community safety. We are also determined to tackle those elements of police officers' working lives that can create frustration and detract from their ability to do their jobs in the way that they would wish.
	We are committed to investment in scientific and technological support and to reducing the burden of unnecessary bureaucracy. This should help officers to spend as much of their time as possible on the front line.
	The Police Negotiating Board (PNB) has agreed in principle to a package of reforms to police pay and conditions of service.
	The agreement is subject to ratification by all parties by the end of February. We believe that, taking the package as a whole, it will benefit the vast majority of officers.
	An ambitious programme of work in police training has begun to raise professional standards for officers and support staff, and to achieve greater consistency nationally.
	We have turned around the decline in police numbers that started under the last Government. Police numbers rose by 2,645 officers in the 12 months to September 2001, taking national strength to 127,231, the highest since February 1995. This increase, of 2.1 per cent. is the largest single annual increase in police numbers for 20 years.
	We have set the police service a target to reach record numbers of officers by this April, and 130,000 officers by spring 2003.

Crime (Gwent)

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of crime in Gwent.

John Denham: In the 12 months to March 2001, crime in Gwent fell 5.7 per cent.

Car Crime

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) rates of detection and (b) impact on victims of car crime.

John Denham: The successful detection and prosecution of offenders are among the key factors in ensuring that victims of crime are satisfied with the criminal justice system. Others include the provision to victims of adequate information about their cases, personal support, and compensation.

Sentencing

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to amend sentencing policy.

Keith Bradley: In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, West (Stephen Hesford) on 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 355W, I said that I anticipated publishing a White Paper in spring 2002. That is still my intention. Earlier today I announced the publication of an overview of the responses to the consultation on the proposals arising from the review of the sentencing framework (the Halliday Report) a copy of which is being provided to each Member of Parliament.

Sentencing

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he took to ensure that the views of young people were considered in his consultation on sentencing reform and the criminal courts.

Keith Bradley: Young people participated in the on-line consultation on the Fairer Sentencing website. They were able to contribute to the reform of criminal courts by visiting the review website. I am also attending events at various university law schools with the aim of giving young people an opportunity to express their views on this issue.

Sentencing

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a summary of the responses to the public consultation on the review of the sentencing framework.

Keith Bradley: The summary of responses has been published today, 4 February 2002. Copies of the summary are being sent to each Member of Parliament and will be placed in the Library. Further copies will be available in the Vote Office and in the Printed Paper Office.

Sentencing

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2002, Official Report, column 843W, on prison sentences, if he will break down the numbers of prison sentences into the categories of offences for which custody of five years or over was handed down in each of those years.

Beverley Hughes: The table contains the information requested.
	
		Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody of five years or over in England and Wales, 1998 to 2000
		
			 Offence 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Murder 254 252 243 
			 Attempted murder 47 59 55 
			 Threat or conspiracy to murder 16 15 22 
			 Manslaughter 101 101 112 
			 Child destruction — 1 — 
			 Causing death by dangerous driving 43 25 44 
			 Manslaughter due to diminished responsibility 3 7 7 
			 Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs 8 7 7 
			 Wounding or other act endangering life 366 370 394 
			 Other wounding etc. 33 28 47 
			 Cruelty to or neglect of children — 1 4 
			 Child abduction 1 4 — 
			 Buggery 72 50 54 
			 Indecent assault on a male 44 35 20 
			 Rape of a female 494 474 442 
			 Rape of a male 30 33 25 
			 Indecent assault on a female 90 95 96 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 7 10 7 
			 Incest 11 9 9 
			 Procuration — 1 — 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 141 166 134 
			 Aggravated burglary in a dwelling 58 65 59 
			 Burglary in a building other than a dwelling 20 16 14 
			 Aggravated burglary in a building not a dwelling 4 4 8 
			 Robbery 646 693 749 
			 Blackmail 13 16 8 
			 Kidnapping, etc. 51 59 61 
			 Theft from the person of another 10 4 4 
			 Theft by an employee 2 1 1 
			 Theft or unauthorised taking from mail — 1 — 
			 Theft from vehicle — 1 — 
			 Theft from shops 3 — 1 
			 Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle 4 — 1 
			 Other theft or unauthorised taking 2 4 4 
			 Fraud by company director etc. 4 — 1 
			 False accounting 1 — 1 
			 Other fraud 35 23 31 
			 Handling stolen goods 18 10 7 
			 Arson 73 59 51 
			 Criminal damage endangering life 4 12 5 
			 Other criminal damage 2 — 1 
			 Threat etc., to commit criminal damage 3 — — 
			 Other forgery etc. 3 — 6 
			 Violent disorder 1 1 2 
			 Perjury — — 1 
			 Gross indecency with children 2 5 11 
			 Assist entry of illegal immigrant 5 3 9 
			 Perverting the course of justice 6 1 6 
			 Absconding from lawful custody — 2 1 
			 Firearms Act offence 13 11 8 
			 Revenue law offence — 1 — 
			 Other (excluding motoring offences) 12 17 12 
			 
			 Unlawful importation of drugs
			 Class A 400 499 549 
			 Class B 88 79 57 
			 Class C 3 — — 
			 Class unspecified 53 26 13 
			 
			 Unlawful exportation of drugs
			 Class A 2 4 3 
			 Class B 4 1 — 
			 Class unspecified 3 — 1 
			 
			 Production, supply and possession with intent to supply a controlled drug
			 Class A 433 549 550 
			 Class B 56 56 51 
			 Class C — — 1 
			 Class unspecified 7 28 8 
			 
			 Possession of a controlled drug
			 Class A 6 4 6 
			 Class B 1 1 — 
			 
			 Other drug offences 11 10 9 
			  
			 Total 3,823 4,009 4,033

Police Retention

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy to improve the retention of police officers.

John Denham: Police numbers rose by 2.1 per cent. in the 12 months to September 2001. Wastage from the police service, at around 5 per cent. of strength for the last four years, is low compared to other occupations.
	But we recognise the importance of retaining the skills and commitment of experienced officers.
	An ambitious programme of work in police training has begun to raise professional standards for officers and support staff, and to achieve greater consistency nationally.
	We are also addressing retention issues as part of the police reform process.
	The Police Negotiating Board (PNB) has agreed in principle to a package of reforms to police pay and conditions of service. The agreement is subject to ratification by all parties by the end of February. We believe that, taking the package as a whole, it will benefit the vast majority of officers.
	The PNB package includes more flexible arrangements to retain officers who are entitled to retire with maximum pension benefits.
	We also intend to remove the requirement for part-time officers to work a minimum of 16 hours a week. This will help improve retention of officers with parental or caring responsibilities.
	We are also developing an Occupational Health strategy which will provide support of officers who are injured or ill and will help forces improve sickness management and reduce medical retirements.

British Crime Survey

Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of crime recorded by the British Crime Survey.

John Denham: The latest British Crime Survey shows that since 1997 overall crime has fallen by 21 per cent., violent crime by 23 per cent., domestic burglary by 35 per cent., and vehicle related theft by 24 per cent. The survey also showed that the chance of becoming a victim of crime is at its lowest since the survey began.

Police (Funding)

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he applied in deferring the provisional funding settlement for police authorities in 2002–03.

John Denham: The provisional police funding settlement is routinely announced in association with the provisional local government finance settlement. The settlement announcement for 2002–03 was moved from 29 November to 4 December as a result of the progress of other parliamentary business.

Police Constables

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the office of police constable.

John Denham: We have no plans to change the status of constables as office holders under the Crown.

Police Expenditure (Wales)

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role his Department has in relation to decisions by the appropriate Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales to (a) set limits on and (b) cap the expenditure of a police authority; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Police authorities in Wales, as in England, are responsible for setting budgets and precepts. However, local government finance is a devolved issue. Reserve powers over local authority budgets under the terms of the Local Government Act 1999, rest, for police authorities in Wales, with the National Assembly for Wales.

Asylum Seekers

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to reform the system of financial support for asylum seekers.

Angela Eagle: We intend to introduce a new system by autumn 2002 which will replace vouchers. We are examining the best method of using the new Application Registration Card to access appropriate cash payments. Our aim is a scheme which will be more efficient and less socially divisive.

Asylum Seekers

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time has been over the last six months for individuals granted refugee status to have their grant confirmed in writing.

Angela Eagle: I regret that the information requested is not readily available, and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum Seekers

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with children's organisations on how the proposals in the forthcoming asylum White Paper will affect asylum-seeking children and young people.

Angela Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Julie Morgan) on 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 302W.

Asylum Seekers

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees and asylum seekers will be kept in Winchester prison as of 31 January.

Angela Eagle: The temporary use of a number of local prisons to provide additional spaces for immigration detainees ended on 12 January. This includes Her Majesty's prison Winchester.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to implement the increase in the cash allowance for asylum seekers supported by NASS;
	(2)  what plans he has for the general uprating of support for asylum seekers in line with changes in income support to be introduced in April 2002.

Angela Eagle: We will introduce these changes to the voucher scheme operated by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) on 8 April 2002. The cash element of subsistence support will be uprated from £10 to £14 and the levels of support will be increased so that the 70 per cent. parity with income support rates for adults and 100 per cent. parity for children are restored. The new rates of support are shown in the table (applicable only to asylum seekers supported by NASS).
	
		Revised levels of voucher support for NASS supported asylum seekers and any dependants from 8 April 2002 -- £
		
			  Current levels of support since 3 April 2000 Levels of support from 8 April 2002 
		
		
			 Qualifying couple 57.37 59.26 
			 Lone parent aged 18 or over 36.54 37.77 
			 Single person aged 25 or over 36.54 37.77 
			 Single person aged at least 18 but under 25 28.95 29.89 
			 Person aged at least 16 but under 18 (except a member of a qualifying couple) 31.75 32.50 
		
	
	Asylum seekers in receipt of the full support package (accommodation and subsistence) receive fully furnished accommodation including cooking utensils. Council tax and utilities are paid for centrally.

Drug Awareness

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives he is taking to promote drug awareness.

Bob Ainsworth: A key focus of the government's anti-drug strategy is ensuring young people and their parents or carers are aware of the dangers of drugs and where to get help. Drugs education policies are in place in 93 per cent. of secondary and 75 per cent. of primary schools. Information about drugs is routinely sent to schools, GP surgeries and police stations. In December, we launched a campaign to raise the awareness of the risks of drugs and to encourage young people, their parents or carers to call the National Drugs Helpline on 0800 776600 for reliable and credible information about the harm drugs cause.

Gibraltar

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the number of Gibraltarians resident in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. George Howarth, dated 4 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of Gibraltarians resident in the United Kingdom. (3202)
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of numbers of UK residents by country of birth and by nationality. The estimate of the number of UK residents who were born in Gibraltar, based on an average over the 12 month period December 2002 to November 2001, is 12,000. The LFS sample size is too small to provide a reliable estimate of the number of nationals to Gibraltar who are resident in the UK.

Monaghan Bombings Inquiry

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will expedite the provision of relevant material relating to the 1974 Monaghan bombings to the Committee of Inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland met with Mr. Justice Barron, sole member of the independent inquiry into the Dublin/Monaghan and Dundalk bombings, on 17 January. The then Royal Ulster Constabulary (now the Police Service of Northern Ireland) and the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Agency have already provided replies to a number of points raised by the inquiry. The Secretary of State is not yet in a position to provide the information requested from the Government; he hopes to do so in the near future.

Environmental Appraisals

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials from his Department have attended the environmental appraisal and integration into policy training course run by the Civil Service College.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 21 January 2002
	One official is due to attend the course in February 2002. Officials have also attended Civil Service College courses on environmental and energy issues and environmental management systems. Officials have also attended seminars and workshops on a number of environmental issues such as energy management, green transport, waste and procurement. The Department has also held a green purchasing symposium for procurement staff and a number of seminars for building managers.
	The Prison Service has also arranged training for staff on energy management, green procurement and environmental management systems and has plans to include an environmental booklet in their staff induction package.

Board of Visitors

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to see a member of the Board of Visitors have been made since April 2000.

Beverley Hughes: This information is not held centrally. All applications to the board from prisoners are recorded in a book which is inspected by the Governor on a regular basis. A manual count at each of the 136 establishments would be required and this would be time consuming and costly.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 10 December 2001 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. John Alvsine Bangura.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 4 February.

Police Pensions

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if contributions to the Police Pension Scheme made before 5 April 1978 took into account provision for a pro rata pension for widows; and for what reason pensions are not paid to the widows of police officers who married or re-married after their retirement if that retirement was before 5 April 1978.

John Denham: It is a principle in public service pension schemes that members are required to contribute towards the cost of their benefits. Prior to 5 April 1978 the police scheme attracted a widow's pension of half the husband's pension. However, in line with other public service pension schemes, it did not provide survivor benefits for wives married to those who had already retired from the police service. Officers' pension contributions at the time reflected this. The greater current contribution rate of 11 per cent. partly reflects the additional benefit of the provision of pensions for post-retirement widows.

Police Pensions

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are claiming a retirement pension; and how many of those retired before 5 April 1978.

John Denham: The data requested are not collated centrally.

Police Pensions

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers who retired before 5 April 1978 remarried after that date; and what estimate he has made of (a) the average pension payment and (b) the total cost to the Government of paying widows of those police officers on the same basis as the widows of police officers who retired after that date.

John Denham: The data requested are not available centrally. The Government Actuary's Department has estimated that the capitalised cost of agreeing to this retrospective change across public service pension schemes would be in the region of £300 million to £500 million.

Internet and Computer Crime

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meetings he has had on an international level to discuss the problems of internet and computer crime.

John Denham: Officials have taken part in recent discussions in the G8 Hi-Tech Crime Subgroup, expert meetings in Europol and more generally within the European Union and Council of Europe.

Internet and Computer Crime

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested and charged with internet and computer crime since 1997; and what sentences they have received where convicted.

John Denham: No information is collected on numbers of people charged. Also the statistics available on arrests do not identify internet and computer crimes separately.
	The available information, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, relates to England and Wales for the years 1999 and 2000 and is shown in the tables. It covers persons proceeded against under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, those convicted, together with sentences received.
	
		Persons proceeded against under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, England and Wales, 1999 and 2000
		
			  Offence description  Statute  Proceeded against  Sentenced Absolute/ conditional discharge  Fine 
		
		
			 1999  
			 Unauthorised access to computer material Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 1 6 3 2 — 
			 Unauthorised Access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 2 3 1 — 1 
			 Unauthorised modification of computer material Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 3 4 7 — 1 
			 Total  13 11 2 2 
			 2000  
			 Unauthorised access to computer material Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 1 8 9 3 4 
			 Unauthorised Access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 2 3 1 — — 
			 Unauthorised modification of computer material Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec 3. 8 5 1 1 
			 Total  19 15 4 5 
		
	
	
		
			  Offence description  Statute Community sentence Suspended sentence Immediate custody  Other 
		
		
			 1999  
			 Unauthorised access to computer material Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 1 1 — — — 
			 Unauthorised Access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 2 — — — — 
			 Unauthorised modification of computer material Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec 3. 2 1 3 — 
			 Total  3 1 3 — 
			 2000  
			 Unauthorised access to computer material Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 1 2 — — — 
			 Unauthorised Access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec. 2 — — 1 — 
			 Unauthorised modification of computer material Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sec 3. — — 3 — 
			 Total  2 — 4 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These data are on the principal offence basis
	2. Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.

Internet and Computer Crime

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been introduced since 1997 to combat Internet and computer crime; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: In November 2000 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced a £25 million investment in the police over three years specifically to fight hi-tech crime and to enhance the capability of the police at a national and local level to investigate computer based offences. The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit was established in April 2001.
	The Task Force for the Protection of Children on the Internet was established in March 2001 and includes representatives of the internet industry, child welfare organisations, the police and Government. Its aim is to make the United Kingdom (UK) the best and safest place in the world for children to use the internet and to help protect children the world over from abuse fuelled by criminal misuse of new technologies.
	Government support the work of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). Its aims are to determine whether particular newsgroups carry potentially illegal material; to trace the originator; to ask internet service providers (ISPs) to remove the material from their servers; and to send details of the site to the UK police, or to the enforcement agency of the country concerned via the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) if the originator is abroad. Since it was established, the IWF has asked UK ISPs to remove nearly 30,000 illegal items from the Internet.
	The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 provides law enforcement and security agencies with strictly circumscribed powers to investigate the use of computers and the Internet to engage in criminal activities.

Police Complaints

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made about police officers in each police area in each of the last five years; and how many have been upheld.

John Denham: Complaints and Discipline Statistics are published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest statistics relating to 2000–01 were published on 14 November 2001 in issue number 21/01. Details are given in the following tables:
	
		Complaints received by the police
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 976 1,035 852 871 845 
			 Bedfordshire 217 247 161 207 194 
			 Cambridgeshire 458 473 410 390 281 
			 Cheshire 489 600 597 556 495 
			 Cleveland 375 342 326 400 318 
			 Cumbria 419 315 289 286 283 
			 Derbyshire 384 443 400 421 298 
			 Devon and Cornwall 760 911 798 645 704 
			 Dorset 185 164 165 239 267 
			 Durham 166 163 181 168 181 
			 Essex 573 559 510 538 549 
			 Gloucestershire 323 328 272 296 258 
			 Greater Manchester 2,149 2,181 2,211 2,281 1,807 
			 Hampshire 948 897 654 594 523 
			 Hertfordshire 312 466 416 502 491 
			 Humberside 431 444 425 410 364 
			 Kent 657 675 624 678 620 
			 Lancashire 886 848 850 918 682 
			 Leicestershire 292 266 280 315 333 
			 Lincolnshire 169 141 310 328 313 
			 London City of 133 126 69 63 60 
			 Merseyside 2,028 2,270 1,429 1,312 911 
			 Metropolitan police 9,122 8,037 7,154 6,611 5,830 
			 Norfolk 423 519 326 433 365 
			 Northamptonshire 294 331 256 212 221 
			 Northumbria 650 671 629 668 661 
			 North Yorkshire 370 343 363 441 441 
			 Nottinghamshire 754 812 689 817 770 
			 South Yorkshire 473 454 551 666 582 
			 Staffordshire 587 598 511 629 803 
			 Suffolk 287 308 268 374 229 
			 Surrey 497 561 639 477 460 
			 Sussex 864 1,076 1,153 1,734 1,814 
			 Thames Valley 742 604 768 756 768 
			 Warwickshire 165 180 206 194 205 
			 West Mercia 506 517 454 578 410 
			 West Midlands 1,681 1,676 1,590 1,868 1,884 
			 West Yorkshire 966 864 796 871 795 
			 Wiltshire 162 185 259 230 266 
			 Dyfed-Powys 202 183 180 148 157 
			 Gwent 427 446 505 557 487 
			 North Wales 392 353 381 439 297 
			 South Wales 965 723 752 733 747 
			  
			 Total 33,859 33,335 30,659 31,854 28,969 
		
	
	
		Complaints against the police upheld
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 15 26 28 16 27 
			 Bedfordshire 14 3 11 9 6 
			 Cambridgeshire 23 42 15 28 18 
			 Cheshire 16 11 17 11 10 
			 Cleveland 13 2 12 0 5 
			 Cumbria 2 1 7 7 0 
			 Derbyshire 26 5 8 2 7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 14 38 26 24 22 
			 Dorset 3 6 7 3 5 
			 Durham 7 5 1 5 4 
			 Essex 14 22 25 6 12 
			 Gloucestershire 12 12 3 11 5 
			 Greater Manchester 22 20 20 30 40 
			 Hampshire 30 22 24 22 20 
			 Hertfordshire 15 12 10 8 20 
			 Humberside 8 18 9 14 14 
			 Kent 27 26 24 26 63 
			 Lancashire 30 12 15 13 26 
			 Leicestershire 10 15 10 5 13 
			 Lincolnshire 12 6 6 5 7 
			 London City of 7 5 6 4 3 
			 Merseyside 11 7 12 6 36 
			 Metropolitan police 203 236 146 168 138 
			 Norfolk 26 11 28 11 17 
			 Northamptonshire 9 1 6 9 7 
			 Northumbria 8 12 6 3 12 
			 North Yorkshire 13 10 27 20 16 
			 Nottinghamshire 15 13 1 12 26 
			 South Yorkshire 3 13 11 18 14 
			 Staffordshire 7 9 6 20 34 
			 Suffolk 12 11 24 11 5 
			 Surrey 7 5 17 7 17 
			 Sussex 33 23 31 54 79 
			 Thames Valley 27 32 23 37 45 
			 Warwickshire 6 6 4 6 9 
			 West Mercia 14 6 23 13 11 
			 West Midlands 23 61 47 26 38 
			 West Yorkshire 54 26 13 13 19 
			 Wiltshire 2 27 5 3 11 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1 3 1 5 4 
			 Gwent 7 3 5 3 8 
			 North Wales 5 9 14 7 13 
			 South Wales 28 17 11 13 17 
			  
			 Total 834 850 745 714 903

Traffic Wardens

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the training which would be required to ensure traffic wardens could effectively discharge the extended powers proposed in the Policing a New Century White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Chief officers will be required to ensure that all staff who are designated as community support officers, including traffic wardens, receive training that is appropriate both to the functions that they will be performing and the powers that have been conferred on them.
	The new Police Skills and Standards Organisation will have an important role in drawing up these training requirements.

Police Training

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the level of training direction and guidance given to police officers driving to emergency incidents.

John Denham: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recognises that the police service has a fundamental duty to equip officers with the necessary skills, through training, to undertake their operational tasks successfully and safely.
	In December 2000, ACPO launched its new police driver training course, introducing a universal standard for driving in England and Wales. An essential element of the course is to emphasise that officers must recognise the need to give priority to public safety above all other considerations such as attending an incident or apprehending a suspect.

Police Vehicles

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) deaths and (b) incidents of serious injury involving police vehicles have been recorded in each of the past five years.

John Denham: The available information is set out in the table and relates to the number of serious injuries and deaths involving police vehicles engaged in immediate/ emergency response or pursuit.
	
		
			  Deaths Serious injury 
		
		
			 199697 15 207 
			 199798 15 200 
			 199899 11 210 
			 19992000 14 115 
			 200001 18 160 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The information has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), to which forces submit statistical returns.
	2.Two forces did not submit a return in 199697, one force did not submit a return in 199899 and 200001.
	3.All figures for financial year.
	4.The figures are numbers of deaths/injuries, not numbers of accidents.
	5.The figures include both police and civilian casualties.

Asylum White Paper

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to involve asylum seeking children and young people in the consultation on the forthcoming Asylum White Paper.

Angela Eagle: The forthcoming White Paper will be available widely to those with an interest. For example, the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Childrens Stakeholders Group which pays particular attention to issues relating to asylum seeking children and young people.

Internet Pornography

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been introduced since 1997 to combat Internet pornography.

Beverley Hughes: The Government are determined to tackle illegal pornography whether on or off line, and the criminal law applies equally to both.
	We are particularly concerned to deal with child pornography both on and off line. In January 2001, we raised the maximum penalties for taking, making, distributing or showing indecent photographs or pseudo- photographs of children to 10 years (from three years), and the maximum penalty for simple possession of such material to five years (from six months).
	In November 2000, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced a 25 million investment in the police over three years specifically to fight hi-tech crime and to enhance the capability of the police at a national and local level to investigate computer based offences, including the possession and distribution of illegal pornography.
	In March 2001, the then Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), established a Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet. The task force began work in May. It is a partnership of: representatives from internet service and communication providers; the Internet Watch Foundation, set up in 1996 which provides a hotline for the public to report child pornography; PC and software retailers and manufacturers; child welfare organisations; the main opposition parties; law enforcement agencies and academics. The task force is looking at proposals for legislation to tackle paedophile 'grooming' activity on and off-line; a best practice model of Internet chat safety measures for providers and computer awareness training for the police and child protection practitioners.
	Internationally, the Government actively support efforts within the European Union, and more widely, to combat child pornography on the Internet. In November 2001, we signed the Council of Europe convention on Cybercrime, which will underpin co-operative action between signatory states in respect of computer-related crimes, including the making, distribution and possession of child pornography.

Firearms

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were murdered by use of a firearm in 2001.

John Denham: The latest published information is for the year ending March 2001. In that year, there were 73 homicides where a firearm was used.

Fingerprinting (Training)

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the training standards for fingerprint experts were last reviewed.

John Denham: The training standards for fingerprint experts have recently been revised. All new fingerprint officers undergo the new modular training programme which incorporates the impact of the change from the previous 16 point standard. The new training programme began being rolled out from 1 April 2001.

Police (Lancashire)

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in Lancashire in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

John Denham: Lancashire constabulary employed 3,247 full-time equivalent officers on 31 March 1997 and 3,288 on 30 September 2001.
	The force also employed 1,409 civilian support staff on 30 September 2001, 283 more than at 31 March 1997.

Burglary (Uxbridge)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been awarded to schemes under the Reducing Burglary Initiative in the Uxbridge constituency in the last 12 months.

John Denham: We did not receive any bids for funding for burglary reduction projects in this area.

Drug Deaths (Reading)

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the change in the number of drug deaths in Reading in the last 12 months and his strategy to combat the spread of hard drugs.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of drug-related deaths for the Reading unitary area held by the Office for National Statistics are in the table.
	
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1998 9 
			 1999 6 
			 2000 15 
		
	
	Reading has a new dedicated Drug Action Team (DAT), which is continuing to address the problems of drug misuse highlighted as issues when Reading was part of the Berkshire DAT. Reading DAT is carrying out a needs analysis to quantify the local drugs misuse problem and, in line with all DATs, is preparing a drug action plan for submission to the Home Office by the end of April.
	The Government are determined to reduce the number of drug-related deaths. That is why we have published an action plan which sets out all the activities that need to be taken over a three-five year period to reduce drug-related deaths by 20 per cent. by 2004. The plan covers three strands:
	campaignsto increase the awareness and skills of those working in the drug sector and drug users;
	better surveillance and monitoringbecause we are concerned that precise levels of drug-related deaths are not clearly identified and;
	researchto improve the information on causes of drug-related death and provide advice on strategies and service approaches.
	We know we need to be more effective in tackling the harms caused by Class A drugs. The action plan is one of the measures we are taking to increase the focus on harm minimisation, which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in his evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 23 October 2001. He also announced his intention to seek advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on their assessment for reclassifying cannabis from Class B to Class C, the setting up a group of key experts to tackle the treatment of crack cocaine addiction and, with the Department of Health, the development of new guidance for heroin prescribing.

Child Curfews

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) local authorities and (b) police services have applied to introduce a local child curfew; how many local child curfews have been introduced; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 28 January 2002
	No applications have been received to impose child curfew schemes under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Sections 48 and 49 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, which took effect on 1 August 2001, extended the upper age limit to 15 and allowed the police, as well as local authorities, to initiate schemes. Local areas are assessing the implications of these changes and we know that local consultation is taking place in some of them. Applications to establish curfews are a discretionary matter for local authorities and the police, to be considered in the light of local needs and wider strategies to deal with disorder in their areas.

Air-guns

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase controls on the (a) use and (b) ownership of (ii) air rifles and (ii) air pistols.

John Denham: There are already strict laws in place to control the use and possession of air weapons including age limits for acquisition and possession and controls on their possession in a public place.
	We are aware that some air pistols which operate on the air cartridge system have been found to be readily convertible to fire live ammunition. We are currently in discussion with the importers and the Forensic Science Service, considering what needs to be done to establish the full extent and nature of the problem and how to tackle it.

Hampshire Police

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will raise the cost of living allowance for Hampshire Police.

John Denham: Following a recommendation from the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) on 8 February 2001, the previous Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) approved a new allowance of 1,000, from 1 April 2001, for officers in Hampshire appointed on or after 1 September 1994, and not in receipt of housing allowance.
	Any case for increasing the allowance for officers in Hampshire would first have to be made in the PNB. However, it should be noted that the Police Arbitration Tribunal, in rejecting a Staff Side claim for a wider regional allowance, confirmed the PNB agreement of 8 February, including the allowance of 1,000 for qualifying officers in Hampshire.
	The PNB is the statutory negotiating body for police pay and conditions of service. Representatives from the Association of Police Authorities, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Police Federation sit on the board, as well as the Secretary of State. The process of negotiation, which led to the joint recommendation on 8 February, will have afforded Hampshire Police Authority and the Chief Constable of Hampshire the opportunity to comment on the proposed new allowance for officers in Hampshire.
	On 27 December 2001, PNB reached agreement in principle on a package of changes to police pay and conditions. If implemented, the agreement will provide for older recruits to receive a higher starting salary from 1 April 2003, enabling forces to attract more experienced recruits to the police service.

Human Trafficking

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment the Government have made of the effectiveness of legislation prohibiting and punishing human trafficking; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Government consider that effective legislation to criminalise and punish trafficking in human beings is an important component of any strategy to tackle this crime. This must also encompass effective enforcement, alongside support and assistance for victims, and prevention and education.
	United Kingdom (UK) Ministers were among the first to sign the Trafficking Protocol to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime and are committed to implementing its measures, one of which is the introduction of trafficking offences. To take measures forward, the European Union Framework Decision on trafficking in human beings has been provisionally agreed by representatives of all European Union member states and will be adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council as a legally binding document in the near future. We will introduce legislation to introduce criminal offences into UK law as soon as parliamentary time permits.

Migrant Workers

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of his policy on signing the 1990 UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 900W.

Essex Police

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance he is giving to Essex Police to increase the numbers of officers.

John Denham: Under the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) recruitment initiative, Essex police has been allocated a total of 197 recruits over and above the force's previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003.
	The force was unable to recruit any of its CFF allocation of 70 officers in 200001, but was allowed to carry-over the allocation into 200102. The force currently expects to recruit at least 127 CFF officers this financial year.
	Essex police strength rose from 2,818 at 30 September 2000 to 2,937 at 30 September 2001. This was an increase of 4.2 per cent.
	Essex officers appointed since 1 September 1994 and not in receipt of housing allowance, benefit from an allowance of 2,000 per annum which has been payable since 1 April 2001.
	We have also announced the creation of a task force, chaired by Sir David O'Dowd, Her Majesty's retiring Chief Inspector of Constabulary, to consider the steps necessary to deliver a significant increase in the capacity of police officers to provide a visible presence in the community.

Police Officers (Length of Service)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio between police officers of less than a year's experience and those of more than a year's experience in each police authority area.

John Denham: holding answer 29 January 2002
	The information is not held centrally.

CID Officers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of CID officers were recruited in 2001 as a ratio against those who left.

John Denham: holding answer 29 January 2002
	The information requested is not held centrally.

Police Earnings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average earnings of a police officer in (a) London and (b) Surrey.

John Denham: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The information is not available in the format requested.

Police Earnings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ratio is between the average earnings of 
	(1)  a superintendent and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear;
	(2)  a police officer with three years' service and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear;
	(3)  what the ratio is between the average earnings of a police officer with 10 years' service and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear.

John Denham: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The information is not available in the format requested as no data are held in this context on average house prices.

Police Earnings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ratio is between the average earnings of a chief inspector and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear.

John Denham: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The information is not available in the format requested; no data are held in this context on average house prices.
	The current national pay scale for Chief Inspectors is 38,124 to 40,773. The scale for a Chief Inspector serving in the Metropolitan police or City of London police forces is 39,729 to 42,378. An individual's salary will be determined by his length of service in the rank. Depending upon the force to which he belongs, and his length of service, a chief inspector may be entitled to housing allowance or transitional rent allowance. A Chief Inspector in London will, if appointed before 1 September 1994, get London weighting of 1,773 a year and a London allowance of 1,011 a year.

Police Houses

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2002, Official Report, column 846W, on police houses, in what circumstances such an officer who remained a tenant from the present day until July 2002 would not enjoy a right to buy at that date.

John Denham: holding answer 30 January 2002
	Those Metropolitan police service tenants who became secure tenants as a result of amendments to the Housing Act 1985 made by the Greater London Authority Act 1999, will acquire a right to buy once they have occupied the property for two years, ie at July 2002.
	If the officer was not a secure tenant (under the Housing Act 1985) in July 2002, the right to buy would not arise.
	We propose in the Police Reform Bill to remove the Metropolitan police authority from the secure tenancy regime, while ensuring that any secure tenant who has acquired the right to buy at the time of Royal Assent of the Bill will have a three month period of grace to exercise that right.
	The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that the Metropolitan police service intends to write to those tenants affected to give early notification of the provisions of the Bill.

Community Sentences

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions about the non-production of medical certificates when there is a failure to comply with a community sentence on health grounds.

Beverley Hughes: My officials met representatives of the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office deregulation unit last year to discuss this issue. Work is in progress examining various ways in which to validate offenders' claims of unfitness to attend community sentence appointments through ill health.

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made in 2002 under the terms of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

Beverley Hughes: None. I would like to inform my hon. Friend that there has been no exercises of the powers of arrest in 2002 as of yesterday under the terms of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, but eight people were detained in 2001 under Part 4 of the Act.

Afghan Hijackers

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the hijackers of the Afghan jet which landed at Stansted airport (a) have been deported and (b) remain in the UK.

Angela Eagle: None of those recently convicted of hijacking the Afghan jet which landed at Stansted airport have been deported. All those convicted have made asylum applications. For those who have been given long sentences, decisions on their immigration status, including the question of deportation from the United Kingdom, will be taken towards the end of those sentences: the situation in Afghanistan could change significantly by the time they are released and a decision taken now might not be relevant in two years time. The applications of those who received shorter sentences, two of whom have now been released, are under consideration now.
	Nine convicted hijackers remain in the United Kingdom. One suspected hijacker was too ill to stand trial: a medical report is awaited.

Household Burglaries

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many household burglaries there were by region, expressed as (a) a percentage and (b) the total number, ranked in descending order according to percentage figures for the latest year for which figures are available.

John Denham: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The requested information is given in the table.
	
		Burglary in a dwelling: offences by region(7), England and Wales
		
			 Region Percentage of England and Wales total Offences recorded Offences per 100,000 population 
		
		
			 London 17.4 70,217 964 
			 North-west 17.3 69,826 1,015 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 14.5 58,561 1,160 
			 West midlands 11.5 46,362 869 
			 South-east 10.1 40,662 503 
			 East midlands 8.1 32,711 780 
			 South-west 6.9 27,792 563 
			 East of England 5.7 22,983 424 
			 North-east 5.4 21,720 841 
			 Wales 3.0 12,150 414 
			 England and Wales  402,984 765 
		
	
	(7) 12 months ending March 2001

Asylum and Immigration Cases

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the processing of (a) asylum and (b) immigration cases.

Angela Eagle: In his statement on 29 October 2001, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set out a substantial package of measures to overhaul our immigration and asylum policy. We will shortly be publishing a White Paper containing details of the Government's proposals for a comprehensive approach to asylum, immigration and nationality in order to improve the processing of cases.

DEFENCE

European Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which of the expert panels taking work forward on the Helsinki Headline Goal the UK will chair; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The European Capabilities Action Plan working groups will not be fully established until the middle of February. Discussions are under way to determine the composition of each group. The UK has indicated that it wishes to be fully involved in this initiative and would be willing to take the lead in co-ordinating the work in some capability areas.

European Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the Helsinki Headline Goal will be contributed to by non-EU countries; what negotiations have taken place to secure such contributions; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Helsinki Headline Goal is a target for EU member states, although additional contributions to the improvement of European capabilities from non-EU countries have been welcomed. These contributions have been offered voluntarily by the countries concerned.

European Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to pursue bilateral arrangements along the lines of the UK/Netherlands Amphibious force with other European countries; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The UK/Netherlands Amphibious Force has been very successful. For some time we have been considering whether similar approaches elsewhere could bring benefits. The working groups being formed to address the remaining Helsinki Headline Goal capability shortfalls provide a suitable context in which to consider such initiatives.

European Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are being pledged to meet the Helsinki Headline Goal; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The UK has identified a range of forces as a possible contribution towards the Helsinki Headline Goal. This includes a pool of 20,000 ground troops, from which a maximum of 12,500 could be deployed at any one time. Maritime and air forces have also been identified. The scale and type of forces committed to a particular operation would be decided by the Government according to the circumstances at the time.

European Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the gaps in capability to meet the Helsinki Headline Goal; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Offers from EU member states have so far met 104 of the 144 capability requirements that underpin the Headline Goal. Approximately half of the remaining shortfalls are considered to be militarily significant. Member states are currently forming working groups under the European Capabilities Action Plan to address these areas.

European Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the maximum geographical range of EU-led operations with existing strategic airlift capability; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The decision to undertake an operation would be based on an assessment of a number of factors, including the feasibility of delivering and sustaining the required scale of forces at the necessary range. The EU member states recognise that strategic mobility is likely to be an important aspect of any military operation and are working to improve their capabilities in this area.

Salaries

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the defence budget is represented by salaries; what the total sum is for (a) the uniformed services and (b) his Department's civilian employees; and what the percentage of both is paid out in (i) Scotland and (ii) overseas.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 1 February 2002
	Information on salaries for the current financial year is provided in The Government's Expenditure Plans 200102 to 200304Ministry of Defence (Cm 5109) and in the Ministry of Defence Departmental Performance Report (Cm 5290). Copies of these documents are available in the Library of the House.
	Information on the percentage of salaries paid in Scotland and overseas is not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Member.

PRIME MINISTER

Special Advisers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 594W, on special advisers, how many special advisers have left his Department since May 1997; on how many occasions the Head of his Department has recommended a gap between leaving employment in his Department and taking up outside employment; if he will list the gap for each occasion this has occurred; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: As with all civil servants, special advisers are covered by the Business Appointment Rules. They are only required to seek permission to take up outside appointments in the circumstances set out in the rules. Since May 1997, 10 special advisers have left my office. Four submitted applications under the Business Appointment Rules to take up outside appointments. One appointment was subject to a three month waiting period and a restriction and another subject to a restriction only. A further three special advisers have resigned from my office, one to join my political office, one to become a full-time civil servant, and one has been appointed as special adviser to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Arthur Andersen

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost to his Department has been of services provided by (a) Andersen and (b) Accenture, Andersen Consulting for (i) accountancy services, (ii) consultancy work and (iii) other work in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: No expenditure has been made by my office since 1997.

Energy Industry

Tom Brake: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Exxon-Mobil, (d) Enron, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf with regard to the Performance and Innovation Unit Energy Review; what meetings he held with each company; when the representations were received and the meetings held; if he will place related documentation in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Over 400 responses have been received, most of which are available on the PIU website, www.piu.gov.uk.
	The PIU energy review will make recommendations on a range of issues and will be published in due course.

Energy Industry

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions since 1997 when he has discussed UK energy policy with members of the American embassy in London; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Energy Industry

Tom Brake: To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions he and his Department have held meetings since May 1997 with representatives from (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Exxon-Mobil, (d) Enron, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf; if he will state the purpose of each meeting; and if he will provide details of the outcomes and agreements reached as a result of each meeting.

Tony Blair: As my official spokesman has already confirmed, I have not had formal meetings with representatives from Enron.
	I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Energy Industry

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions on which he has met senior executives of energy companies since 7 June 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: As my official spokesman has already confirmed, I have not had formal meetings with representatives from Enron.
	I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Energy Industry

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 102W, on BP, for what reason his normal practice did not apply in respect of Enron; and if he will disapply it in respect of BP.

Tony Blair: As with previous Administrations, it is not normal practice to provide details of ministerial meetings. However on this occasion because unsubstantiated and unjustified allegations were made against the Government it was thought right to make clear, without setting a precedent, where there had been meetings with the DTI as that is the lead Department dealing with energy policy.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister what information from the Railtrack administrator he has received to indicate that they have uncovered greater financial difficulties at the company than had previously been recognised.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

Parliamentary Questions

Michael Spicer: To ask the Prime Minister what guidance he has given to Ministers on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions.

Tony Blair: The Government have made it clear that they are committed to providing prompt and accurate answers to parliamentary questions. The Secretary to the Cabinet has written to all Departments reminding them of the importance of answering parliamentary questions helpfully and within the required time scales.

Broadcasting

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the work of his special adviser with responsibility for issues relating to the broadcasting industry.

Tony Blair: The special adviser works in the No. 10 Policy Directorate, which covers domestic policy including the broadcasting industry.

Broadcasting

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases.

Tony Blair: My office has not bought any televisions during the last 24 months.

Broadcasting

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister who is responsible for making the decision about the switch off of the analogue television signal.

Tony Blair: A decision to switch off analogue terrestrial television transmissions will be taken collectively by the Government. A number of Government Departments have an interest in managing the terrestrial broadcasting spectrum, in particular the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Ministerial Meetings

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Prime Minister in relation to the meeting that he had on 2 December 1999 with Lou Gerstner, what the criteria were according to which that meeting was arranged; what its outcome was; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

UK-Japan 21st Century Group

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the agenda for the February conference of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group.

Tony Blair: The UK-Japan 21st Century Group is a non-governmental organisation.

Acquis Communautaire

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement defining his interpretation of the acquis communautaire.

Tony Blair: The acquis communautaire is generally understood to mean everything decided and agreed upon by the Communities and the state of Community law at any given time. It covers the whole range of principles, policies, laws, practices and obligations that have been agreed or that have been developed within the European Communities.

Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from employees or directors of Ispat International between May 1997 and December 2001; and if he will list them by date and subject.

Tony Blair: On the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office I wrote to the Romanian Prime Minister on 23 July 2001 welcoming the contract for the privatisation of the Romanian steel plant SIDEX with the British LNM group.

Ispat International

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings have taken place and on which dates between (a) himself, (b) officials within the Prime Minister's office and (c) special advisers within the Prime Minister's office and representatives of Ispat International since May 1997.

Tony Blair: It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

Golden Jubilee

Tim Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister what events he is planning to attend as part of the golden jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the golden jubilee.

Tony Blair: As present, I expect to attend the following events:
	29 AprilHosting a dinner at No. 10 Downing street.
	30 AprilSession of the Joint Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall at which Her Majesty will address both Houses.
	4 JuneNational thanksgiving service at St. Paul's.
	25 JulyOpening of the Commonwealth games.
	4 AugustClosing of the Commonwealth games.

TREASURY

Independent Financial Advisers

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the defined payment system as outlined in the Financial Services Agency's polarisation paper will have on the number of independent financial advisers.

Ruth Kelly: The FSA consultation paper analyses the likely impact of these proposals on the IFA sector at paragraphs 4.19 to 4.21.
	It concludes that the IFA sector would be likely to shrink to some extent. This does not mean that these firms would go out of business, as existing IFA firms who do not want to move to the defined payment system proposed by the FSA would be able to operate as they do now, expect that they would not be able to hold themselves out as independent. This outcome also needs to be seen in the context of the current market where 80 per cent. of mass market consumers buying packaged products use the non-IFA or tied sector. These consumers should benefit from increased choice under the FSA's proposals.
	The FSA consultation exercise closes on 19 April.

Departmental Expenditure

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his Department's total expenditure by month in each financial year since 199798.

Ruth Kelly: Monthly figures for all Departments could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Treasury has published full, financial year outturns for the years 199798 to 19992000 in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (Cm 5101). Provisional financial year outturns for 200001 have been published in Public Expenditure 200001 Provisional Outturn (Cm 5243).

NDPBs (Payments)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the instances in which his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 200001.

Ruth Kelly: The bodies the Chancellor is responsible for have paid the following percentages of invoices within 30 days or within contractual arrangements.
	HM Treasury 99.09 per cent.; National Investment and Loans Office 100 per cent.; Department of National Savings 99.6 per cent.; Inland Revenue 98.65 per cent.; HM Customs and Excise 97.36 per cent.; and Royal Mint 95 per cent.
	More detailed information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tax Returns

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households completed neither a tax return nor a tax credit claim form in (a) 199899, (b) 19992000 and (c) 200001.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not hold return information by household.

Tax Returns

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the concession under which the penalty for not submitting a return on time will not be charged if the Revenue reject a return as incomplete and the taxpayer returns it within 14 days will apply this year; and what the statutory authority is that allows the Revenue to reject a return in such circumstances.

Dawn Primarolo: Section 8 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 requires a person who is given a notice to make and deliver a return containing such information as may reasonably be required in the pursuance of the notice. The Inland Revenue will reject a return if it fails to satisfy the requirements of section 8.
	The term incomplete had the potential to be misleading and the Inland Revenue now refers to such rejected returns as unsatisfactory.
	The 14 day period of grace will apply this year if a return received before the filing date is sent back to someone who has genuinely forgotten something, such as signing the return. The 14 day period of grace will not be given in cases where it appears a delaying tactic is being employed.
	A detailed explanation of the position was given in Inland Revenue Tax Bulletin 53.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) full and (b) partial regulatory impact assessments published in respect of the proposed change in the tax system since May 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: All full and partial regulatory impact assessments are published on the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise internet sites. Copies of full regulatory impact assessments are also available in the House of Commons Library.

Income Tax

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people (a) only paid tax at the rate of 10p in the pound and (b) would have done so if they had not claimed the children's tax credit in 200001.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to Inland Revenue Statistics table 2.1, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The latest version can be accessed on the Inland Revenue website http:// www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/it_t01_1.htm.
	The children's tax credit was introduced in 200102.

Income Tax

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the yield would be of increasing (a) the higher rate and (b) the standard rate of income tax by 1p.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to table 4 in the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Relief published in November 2001, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.

Capital Gains Tax

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the capital gains tax rate would be if the current yield was maintained but taper relief was abolished.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no separate capital gains tax rate. Capital gains are taxed on individuals using the income tax savings rates: 10 per cent., 20 per cent. and 40 per cent. The rate depends on how far the individual's income has used up the starting and basic rate bands. A rate of 34 per cent. applies to trusts.
	The cost of taper relief for 200102, the latest available year, is 580 million.
	Assuming an across the board cut in tax rates applicable to capital gains and ignoring behavioural changes, the relevant tax rates applied to individuals would be 7.4 per cent., 14.8 per cent. and 29.6 per cent. The rate for trusts would be 25.2 per cent.

Parliamentary Questions

Angela Browning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the question from the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton (ref 27653) of 10 January, on gross receipts of the windfall tax on Railtrack.

Andrew Smith: I replied to the hon. Lady's question on 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 516W.

Beer Duty

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a progressive beer duty to assist small-scale brewers.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) on 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 1003W.

Tax Credits

Alan Keen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent quarterly statistical returns are of the number of awards for (a) working families tax credit, (b) disabled persons tax credit and (c) children's tax credit for (i) the constituency of Brentford and Isleworth and (ii) the constituency of Feltham and Heston.

Dawn Primarolo: For (a) and (b), I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Hepburn) on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 293W.
	Information about the children's tax credit is not available by constituency. However, the number of families who are eligible for the CTC in London is estimated to be 475,000.

Tax Credits

Mark Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families eligible for receipt of the child tax credit have yet to claim their entitlement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer to the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 203W.

VAT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many changes there have been in the scope of VAT since May 1997.

Paul Boateng: Since May 1997, there have been no substantive changes to the scope of VAT, in terms of the range of goods and services which are liable to the tax. This Government have however reduced the rate of VAT on certain items, such as domestic fuel and power. Details of such changes, and of any marginal adjustments made, for example, to the scope of certain reliefs, are identified in the relevant Budget documentation.

VAT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of VAT would be if the yield were maintained but all goods and services currently exempt or zero rated were classified as being standard rated.

Paul Boateng: Since sufficiently robust estimates are not available of the effect of applying VAT to exempt goods and services, it is not possible to calculate the VAT rate that would apply were they, and zero-rated items, taxed (and the overall yield maintained).

Customs/Inland Revenue

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed by (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Customs and Excise at (i) 1 May 1997, (ii) 31 December 1997, (iii) 31 December 1998, (iv) 31 December 1999, (v) 31 December 2000 and (vi) at the most recent date.

Paul Boateng: The numbers of staff in each Department at the appropriate dates were as follows:
	
		HM Customs and Excise
		
			  Number of staff Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 31 May 1997 (8)24,461 (8)23,634 
			 1 January 1998 24,559 23,690 
			 1 January 1999 23,940 23,086 
			 1 January 2000 23,422 22,577 
			 1 January 2001 23,254 22,436 
			 1 January 2002 23,100 22,320 
		
	
	
		
			  Permanent and FTA  
			  Full-time Part-time Number of staff FTE 
		
		
			  Inland Revenue  
			 1 May 1997 43,905 9,097 53,002 49,727 
			 1 January 1998 43,382 9,144 52,526 49,234 
			 1 January 1999 43,336 9,489 52,825 49,409 
			 1 January 2000 53,598 12,584 66,182 61,778 
			 1 January 2001 53,941 13,367 67,308 62,763 
			 1 January 2002 54,279 14,495 68,774 63,991 
			  
			  Valuation Office Agency  
			 1 May 1997 3,983 480 4,463 4,290 
			 1 January 1998 3,842 483 4,325 4,151 
			 1 January 1999 3,608 471 4,079 3,909 
			 1 January 2000 3,630 484 4,114 3,945 
			 1 January 2001 3,512 520 4,032 3,855 
			 1 January 2002 3,411 542 3,953 3,774 
			   
			 Total Inland Revenue and Valuation Office Agency 
			 1 May 1997 47,888 9,577 57,465 54,017 
			 1 January 1998 47,224 9,627 56,851 53,385 
			 1 January 1999 46,944 9,960 56,904 53,318 
			 1 January 2000 57,228 13,068 70,296 65,723 
			 1 January 2001 57,453 13,887 71,340 66,618 
			 1 January 2002 57,690 15,037 72,727 67,765 
		
	
	Staffing figures as at 1 April and 1 October each year are provided to the Cabinet Office by both Departments and are published as part of the Civil Service manpower figures. In addition, each Department publishes an annual report (year end 31 March) that contains details of staffing figures.

Accounting

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he has made in accounting for (a) taxes and (b) spending since May 1997; and what the impact of these changes has been.

Andrew Smith: There have been two major changes in accounting practice since 1997 that have impacted on the accounting for taxes and public spending, one in respect of national accounts and one in respect of accounting by Government Departments.
	In 1998, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) converted UK national accounts to the European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95). This changed the accounting for some components of taxes and public spending. The ESA95 treatment was described in National Accounts Concepts Sources and Methods (ONS, 1998, ISBN 0116210621), chapters 5 and 21. The impact of the changes on the main public finance aggregates was quantified in the 1998 pre-Budget report (Cm 4076), paragraphs B26 to B36.
	The Government introduced resource accounting and budgeting (RAB) for Government Departments with effect from 200102. This applies generally accepted accounting practices to the accounts and budgets of Government Departments, and replaced the previous system, which just recorded cash flows. The impact of the introduction of RAB on departmental expenditure limits was set out in Spending Review 2000 (Cm 4807), Table A7.

Exchange Rates

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the economy of a fall in the value of sterling relative to (a) the US dollar, (b) the euro and (c) the yen by 10 per cent. compared with its rate at 1 January.

Ruth Kelly: The effects of exchange rate changes depend on the drivers of the changes, and are difficult to isolate with any confidence.

Personal Care (VAT)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is payable on the wages element of home care provided by private sector organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Personal care services provided by private businesses are VAT exempt when performed or directly supervised by qualified nurses to meet the medical needs of the client. VAT is chargeable on all other care provided commercially in the home.
	When the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry lays before Parliament revised regulations governing the conduct of the private recruitment industry, Customs and Excise will introduce a VAT concession for the wages element of commercially provided home care.

Duty-free Imports

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is Government policy to seek to achieve greater convergence between EU countries on those goods which may be purchased outside the EU and imported duty-free into each country.

Paul Boateng: In general, the same rates of customs duty apply throughout the EU. Where optional reliefs from these duties are available, it is for individual member states to decide whether to introduce them.

Capital Housing Debt

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to remove capital housing debt from local authorities in Scotland.

Andrew Smith: The Scottish Executive are responsible for determining their policies in devolved areas of responsibility. The Scottish Executive announced arrangements for housing stock transfer on 18 September 2001, including arrangements for handling debt agreed with the Treasury and similar to those in England.

Credit Statistics (Scotland)

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was borrowed (a) in 2001, (b) 10 (c) 20 and (d) 30 years ago on (i) credit cards, (ii) bank loans and (iii) mortgages in Scotland.

Ruth Kelly: The information is as follows:
	
		 billion 
		
			  Mortgage lending(10),(11) 
		
		
			 1971(10) 0.12 
			 1981(10) 0.82 
			 1991(10) 2.08 
			 2001(11),(12) 5.91 
		
	
	(8) Loans for house purchase only
	(9) Scotland only
	(10) Building society lending only
	(11) Lending by all mortgage lenders
	(12) Estimate
	Source:
	Council of Mortgage Lenders/DTLR Survey of Mortgage Lenders, CML/DoE 5 per cent. Sample Survey of Building Society Mortgage Completions
	Borrowing on credit cards and through bank loans in Scotland is not currently identifiable from existing data sets. However, the Committee of Scottish Clearing Banks is currently looking at collecting statistics in these areas in the future.

Euro

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have spent in making preparations for entry to the European single currency.

Ruth Kelly: Government spending on preparations for possible entry to the single currency is set out in the Fifth Report on Euro Preparations, published in November 2001.

Euro

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the nature of the preliminary technical work being undertaken on the five economic tests and how many officials are involved in it.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury published a note in November 2001, Preliminary and Technical Work to Prepare for the Assessment of the Five Tests for UK Membership of the Single currency, which addressed the issues of content and timing of the preliminary and technical work to prepare for the assessment of the five economic tests for UK membership of the single currency. A copy can be found in the Library of the House. Regarding the second part of the question, I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 373W.

Euro

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been introduced to assist businesses that want to trade in euros; and how much they have cost.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the information provided to UK businesses and expenditure on business euro preparations were set out in the Treasury's fifth report on euro preparations, published on 4 November, copies of which were deposited in the Library of the House.

Prospectus Directive

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in negotiations on the proposed prospectus directive to minimise the disclosure costs of issuers.

Ruth Kelly: The UK's objective is to secure a prospectus directive that will strike a more appropriate balance between the need to keep the cost of raising capital as low as possible and to protect the interests of investors.
	I am encouraged by both the direction that negotiations in council working group are taking, and the work of the European Parliament to date.
	However, all parts of the proposed prospectus directive are still subject to further negotiation.

Inland Revenue (Internet Access)

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when officers of Inland Revenue in the (a) Special Compliance Office Bristol, (b) Large Business Office Bristol and (c) Business Tax Group of International Division were first provided with personal direct access to the Internet from their desk workstations.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is as follows:
	(a) There is only one person in Special Compliance Office Bristol with personal direct access to the internet from their desktop. That access was provided on 27 April 2001.
	(b) There is nobody in Large Business Office Bristol with personal direct access to the internet from the desktop.
	(c) Twenty members of the Business Tax Group of International Division were provided with personal direct access to the internet from their desktops. That access was provided on 10 September 2001.

Private Medical Insurance (Buckingham)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents in the Buckingham constituency have private medical insurance.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. John Bercow, dated 4 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of residents in the Buckingham constituency with private medical insurance. (24868)
	The latest available information is from the 1995 General Household Survey. Because this is a survey based on a sample of the population, it can only provide information in percentage terms, and only down to Government Office Region level, not by parliamentary constituency.
	In 1995 18 per cent. of people (of all ages) had private medical insurance cover in the South East Government Office region (which includes Buckinghamshire). The figure for Great Britain was 9 per cent.

Demography

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of (a) men and (b) women aged (i) 60 to 64, (ii) 65 to 74, (iii) 75 to 79 and (iv) 80 years or above, in each region of the UK.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 14 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the number of men and women in each region of the UK. I am replying in his absence. (32766)
	The requested information is provided in the attached table. These data are provided for the Government Office Regions (GORs) of England and for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
	
		Estimated resident population mid-2000 for Government office regions of England and country totals for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland -- Thousand
		
			   Males  Females  
			 Area 6064 6574 7579 80 and over 6064 6574 7579 80 and over 
		
		
			 England 
			 North East 63.5 106.6 36.8 29.6 68.1 124.1 52.5 67.4 
			 North West 167.8 265.7 93.3 82.3 175.4 309.2 136.7 188.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 121.9 195.2 71.8 63.8 127.7 227.2 100.2 141.0 
			 East Midlands 102.6 168.5 62.5 55.3 104.6 187.8 83.9 112.9 
			 West Midlands 132.5 212.8 74.5 65.4 134.5 237.7 105.6 141.6 
			 East 130.9 218.1 79.1 76.3 134.4 242.5 108.5 151.6 
			 London 144.3 219.9 78.1 78.9 149.7 249.4 111.0 170.8 
			 South East 189.6 310.2 114.0 115.9 196.6 354.5 162.9 243.9 
			 South West 124.4 214.0 83.0 83.8 129.6 244.3 116.6 171.7 
			 Wales 75.1 124.9 46.1 41.0 77.5 142.9 64.6 88.9 
			 Scotland 122.7 196.7 65.3 56.1 136.6 243.0 99.0 127.0 
			 Northern Ireland 35.2 54.4 18.6 16.5 38.1 67.5 28.0 36.1 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, General Register Office Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Demography

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many women aged (i) 60 to 64, (ii) 65 to 74, (iii) 75 to 79 and (iv) 80 years or above (a) are married, (b) are widowed, (c) are divorced and (d) have never been married.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 14 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the number of women 60 years of age and over by their marital status. I am replying in his absence. (32765)
	The table gives the requested information.
	
		The mid 2000 marital status estimates for females in Great Britain -- Thousand
		
			  064 6574 7579 80 and over 
		
		
			 Single 69.1 150.1 79.6 140.5 
			 Married 1,017.1 1,464.1 422.6 286.5 
			 Widowed 193.0 765.2 588.6 1,142.7 
			 Divorced 155.5 183.3 50.8 35.8 
			  
			 Total 1,434.7 2,562.6 1,141.6 1,605.6 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics and the General Register Office for Scotland

Special Advisers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the record kept under Clause 9 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers of contacts between his special advisers and the news media since September 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten) on 31 October 2002, Official Report, columns 74142W.

Earnings Statistics (Greater London)

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average earnings were for (a) men and (b) women working in the Greater London area at the latest available date.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 4 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on average pay in Greater London. I am replying in his absence. (32120)
	New Earnings Survey (NES) provides earnings data for full-time employees on adult rates of pay. In April 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, estimates of the average weekly pay in the Greater London Government Office Region are 667.70 for men and 483.10 for women.

Public Spending

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the IMF to ensure that public spending targets account for the need to finance free basic education in developing countries.

Paul Boateng: The UK has been at the forefront of encouraging the IMF to reform their medium term programmes to ensure that these deliver growth and poverty reduction. A key element of the new design of IMF programmes is the undertaking to support pro-poor budgets, which includes protecting and expanding where possible education spending. In recent years the IMF programmes have supported the introduction of free education in several countries, including Uganda and Tanzania.

Departmental Contracts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the (a) number and (b) value of Government contracts awarded to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte and Touche, (iii) Ernst  Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997.

Andrew Smith: This information is not held centrally. Each Department is responsible for its own contracts.

Stamp Duty

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the impact of stamp duty rate increases on the housing market.

Ruth Kelly: We regularly review the state of the housing market, bearing in mind all the factors which have an impact on it.

Enron

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that the report prepared by Arthur Andersen accountants on the private finance initiative will not be considered by the Government until the completion of the US Senate Committee investigation into Enron.

Andrew Smith: This report was published by the Government in January 2000.

Ministerial Travel

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last four years.

Ruth Kelly: The expenditure on (a) ministerial cars and drivers was addressed in the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 30 January 2002, Official Report, columns 40506W.
	Expenditure on taxis for the Treasury for the years 199899 to 200102 (inclusive) is as follows.
	
		Taxis
		
			   
		
		
			 199899 outturn 148,657 
			 19992000 outturn 123,015 
			 200001 outturn 143,048 
			 200102 year to date 89,800

Railtrack

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under which section of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information he withholds information on consultations on draft legislation prepared by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to put Railtrack into administration.

Andrew Smith: A railway administration order was made in respect of Railtrack plc under the provisions of the Railways Act 1993. No extra legislation was necessary to put the company into administration.
	There is no obligation to disclose confidential communications between Departments, in accordance with Exemption 2 (internal discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total external spend by his Department was on Private Finance Initiative consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: There are currently two Treasury PFI projects: the Treasury Building project and the Metropolitan Telephone Service (MTS) project, which is the responsibility of the Office of Government Commerce.
	Fees paid to eight firms of professional advisers to the Treasury on the refurbishment between the start of the project in 1995 and financial close of the deal in May 2000 amounted to 2.637 million. Details on numbers of consultants employed and the number of days billed for each one could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	There has been no expenditure under the MTS project on PFI consultants in the last four years.
	It is important that Departments develop their own internal sources of professional advice to reduce reliance on expensive external consultants. Where external advice is required Departments should take account of the guidance in Treasury Taskforce Technical Note No. 3 on How to Appoint and Manage Advisers, a copy of which is available on the Office of Government Commerce website www.ogc.gsi.gov.uk.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 2002, Official Report, column 522W, on private finance initiative projects, when the revised guidance from the Office of Government Commerce on the standardisation of PFI contracts will be published.

Andrew Smith: The private sector has been asked to comment on the draft revised general guidance on Standardisation of PFI Contracts, which has been placed on the websites of the Office of Government Commerce and Partnerships UK. Responses have been requested by 15 February. These will be considered by the Office of Government Commerce drawing on the advice of Partnerships UK, and there will then be a period of consultation with interested parties in the public and private sectors. Publication of the revised guidance is expected in the spring.

Departmental Leave Entitlements

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in his Department in each of the last four years.

Ruth Kelly: The annual leave entitlements for staff below the senior civil service for the last four years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  On entry After 10 years service After 20 years service 
		
		
			 Range A-E
			 1998
			 1999
			 2000 25 30  
			 2001 (13)25   
			 
			 Range A-C
			 1998 25 27 30 
			 1999 25 28 30 
			 2000
			 2001
			 
			 Range D-E
			 1998 25 30  
			 1999 25 30  
			 2000
			 2001
		
	
	(13) 30 days after seven years service.
	The annual leave entitlement for members of the senior civil service is currently set by the Cabinet Office at 30 days and has been so for the last four years.

Amateur Sports Clubs

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 773W, on community amateur sports clubs, how many such clubs (a) in the UK and (b) in the Buckingham constituency have applied for charitable status since the Charity Commission's announcement.

Paul Boateng: The Charity Commission announced on 30 November that it would recognise as charitable the
	promotion of community participation in healthy recreation by the provision of facilities for the playing of particular sports. Community amateur sports clubs are able to apply immediately. The commission has received a significant number of inquiries from sports clubs interested in taking advantage of the new charitable purpose. As clubs will have to consider the implications of charitable status, seek agreement from their members if they wish to pursue this option and make any necessary changes to their constitutions before applying for charitable status, there will inevitably be some delay before clubs are in a position to formally apply for registration. No clubs in the Buckingham constituency have yet formally applied to register.

Gibraltar

George Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the balance of trade between Gibraltar and the UK in the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: HM Customs and Excise collect statistics for trade in goods with countries outside the EU from customs declarations.
	Customs do not estimate UK trade with Gibraltar. The published figures are taken from customs declarations and reflect actual trade in goods.
	The figures shown are the import and export totals for 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, and the latest available for 2001 (ie to November 2001).
	
		
			   million Quantity: kg 
		
		
			 1997   
			 Exports 82,351,296 161,733,566 
			 Imports 5,679,884 297,301 
			 1998   
			 Exports 81,070,327 168,491,470 
			 Imports 10,075,382 1,566,507 
			 1999   
			 Exports 97,681,145 215,911,465 
			 Imports 12,790,871 6,398,953 
			 2000   
			 Exports 121,598,796 199,572,334 
			 Imports 11,547,065 4,977,261 
			 2001(14)   
			 Exports 116,063,008 107,221,109 
			 Imports 13,734,599 2,490,850 
		
	
	(14) January-November

Productivity

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 765W, on productivity, what steps he is taking to raise productivity growth to the level of the (a) G7 and the (b) OECD average.

Ruth Kelly: The Government's strategy for improving the UK's long-term productivity performance was set out in Productivity in the UK: The Evidence and the Government's Approach (November 2000). Further steps to raise productivity growth were announced in Budget 2001, Productivity in the UK: Enterprise and the Productivity Challenge (June 2001) and the 2001 pre-Budget report.

Engagements

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library his official diary for July 2001.

Ruth Kelly: During July 2001 my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer attended a number of meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, carried out duties in the House of Commons, gave several speeches and undertook a number of engagements in his constituency.

Tobacco Revenue

Frank Roy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised through tobacco sales in each year since 1999.

Paul Boateng: Excise Duty receipts from tobacco products were 3,695 million in 1999, 7,760 million in 2000 and 7,708 million in 2001.
	Estimated VAT receipts from the sale of tobacco products were 1,755 million in 1999 and 1,856 million in 2000. An estimate of VAT receipts from the sale of tobacco products in 2001 is not yet available.

Tax Receipts

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of total receipts from income tax, VAT and national insurance paid by the top (a) 1 per cent., (b) 5 per cent. and (c) 10 per cent. of tax payers in (i) 199798 and (ii) 200001.

Andrew Smith: The available information is given in the table. It is not possible to estimate amounts of VAT paid by taxpayers in different parts of the distribution.
	
		Proportions of total income tax and national insurance contributions paid by percentiles of the distribution
		
			   Income tax National insurance contributions 
		
		
			 199798   
			 Top 1 per cent. 19 2 
			 Top 5 per cent. 37 9 
			 Top 10 per cent. 47 18 
			
			 200001   
			 Top 1 per cent. 23 2 
			 Top 5 per cent. 41 9 
			 Top 10 per cent. 51 19

Reputational Externalities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 15 January, Ref. 27602, on reputational externalities, for what reason he has not undertaken to place his Department's internal guidance on reputational externalities in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The Treasury offers advice to other Departments in making appraisals, taking into account the specific circumstances of individual cases. Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information provides for the confidentiality of internal opinion, advice, recommendation, consultation and deliberation.

Reputational Externalities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to his letter of 11 December 2001, to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell, for what reason his Department used reputational externalities as a justification for the choice of discount rate recommended in Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: Reputational externalities have not been used in this way; and my letter of the 11 December does not say that they have been used in this way.

Geoffrey Spence

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 2001, Official Report, column 296W, on Geoffrey Spence, if he will place a copy of Mr. Spence's (a) terms of reference, (b) terms and conditions and (c) job description in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: Mr. Spence has been appointed by Partnerships UK to provide professional advice to the Treasury on PFI and PPP and, as necessary, on current policy issues and projects. His terms and conditions are a matter for Partnerships UK.

Arthur Andersen

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many of his Department's PFI contracts Arthur Andersen has been an adviser; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: None.

Departmental Underspends

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 27W, on departmental underspends, whether he estimates that underspends will be higher in 200102 than in 200001.

Andrew Smith: Table B16 of the pre-Budget report (Cm 5318) assumes that the outturn for total Departmental Expenditure Limits will be at the planned level. A revised position will be published on total DEL outturn in the Budget.

Minimum Wage

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people working in the Greater London area receive the national minimum wage.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 4 February 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of workers in Greater London who receive the National Minimum Wage (NMW). (32123)
	The estimated number of jobs in the United Kingdom with pay below NMW rates in April 2001 was 320,000. Of these 50,000 relate to 1821 year olds and 270,000 relate to 22 year olds and over.
	The National Statistics website contains estimates for the numbers and proportions of jobs paid at below NMW rates for Government Office Regions for all persons. However, for Greater London the estimates are not available because the survey sample sizes are too small to provide reliable information. Figures are posted at: http:// www.statistics.gov.uk/themes/labour_market/pay_and_earnings/ measuring_low_pay.asp

ECOFIN

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on what his policy will be during discussions on Germany's projected budget deficit at ECOFIN on 12 February.

Ruth Kelly: These issues will be discussed at ECOFIN on 12 February. The process is set out in the treaty, and the regulations regarding the operation of the Stability and Growth Pact.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in each of the last four years, specifying the purpose and cost of each trip.

John Prescott: For details of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas costing more than 500 and the annual cost of all Ministers' visits overseas since 2 May 1997, I refer the hon. Member to the answers provided by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 June 1999, Official Report, columns 19697W, 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 969W and 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 467W. The Government are committed to publishing this level of information on an annual basis, and information for 200102 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. In view of this commitment which involves a significant amount of work and cost, the Government have no plans to widen the scope of the annual list to include junior Ministers.

Civil Defence Grants

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the settlement for civil defence grants for 200102, broken down by authority.

Christopher Leslie: A list broken down by authority showing the amounts of civil defence grant paid to each eligible authority in England and Wales for this financial year, 200102, has been placed in the Library. This amounts to 90 per cent. of the approved grant. The balance will be paid in financial year 200203 and depends on the actual expenditure incurred in accordance with the provisions of the civil defence grant regulations.

Terrorism (Contingency Plans)

Valerie Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the Government plan to consult external scientists to ensure that contingency plans for responding to a terrorist attack using chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear material are scientifically robust.

Christopher Leslie: The Government's chief scientific adviser has been asked to consult on a regular basis with appropriate scientists and expert advisers to ensure that contingency plans reflect the latest scientific knowledge. He reports on a regular basis to the CBRN sub-committee chaired by the Minister of State, Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham).

Departmental Leave Entitlements

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in his Department in each of the last four years.

Christopher Leslie: Annual leave entitlements for Cabinet Office staff in grades below the senior civil service in each of the last four years have been as follows.
	
		
			 Grade On entry After 10 years service After 20 years service 
		
		
			  Bands A and B2  
			 1998 25 30  
			 1999 25 30  
			 2000 25 30  
			 2001 25 (15) 30 
			 
			  Bands B1 and C  
			 1998 (16)22 27 30 
			 1999 (16)22 27 30 
			 2000 25 30  
			 2001 25 (15) 30 
		
	
	(15) Rising by one day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
	(16) 25 days after one year
	The annual leave entitlement for the senior civil service is set centrally by the Cabinet Office at 30 days, and has been so for the last four years.

Relationships (Civil Registration) Bill

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact enactment of the Relationships (Civil Registration) Bill would have on his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Roche: Civil partnership registration and associated rights and responsibilities raise a number of complex issues, which have prompted a growing debate within society and the Government are watching this debate with interest.
	These issues potentially have significant financial and administrative implications and the Government cannot commit themselves to making any changes in these areas before undertaking a comprehensive analysis of all the implications. The Government are examining the issues in detail. The Home Office will contribute to the work, which the Cabinet Office is co-ordinating.

Television Sets

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases.

Christopher Leslie: The information in (a) and (b) could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
	My Department follows the Government's requirement to consider the whole-life cost when making any purchasing decision. Whole-life costs take account of possible future obsolescence.

Computer Hacking

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions in 2001 attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to computers in his Department by hacking; and of those how many were successful.

Christopher Leslie: During 2001 there have been no identified cases of successful attempts to gain unauthorised access to computers in my Department and its agencies by hacking.

Lost/Stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those items valued at more than 50 which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years.

Christopher Leslie: pursuant to his reply, 29 January 2002, c. 251
	I regret that my answer on lost or stolen items from my office was incorrect, and the Prime Minister's Office should not have been included. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer to an identical parliamentary question from the hon. Member for Buckingham is to be found on 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 26W.

Regulatory Reform

Valerie Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Government's regulatory reform action plan will be published.

Christopher Leslie: The Government have today published their regulatory reform action plan. This fulfils a commitment given in July 2001 to produce a list of reforms, including those that could be delivered through the new streamlined process under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001.
	This action plan contains 63 new proposals for regulatory reform orders. It is also wide-ranging, covering reform at all levels, across all sectors and by all routes and bringing together over 260 proposals for change that will benefit businesses, charities, the voluntary and wider public sectors, and the individual citizen.
	The Government are committed to better regulation. This involves legislating only where necessary and in the most efficient way, and deregulating and simplifying existing legislation wherever possible. The action plan brings together our proposals for deregulation and better regulation.
	The plan represents a beginning, and the Government will report on progress. In the plan, we also ask people to come forward with detailed suggestions for what more could be done to reduce bureaucratic burdens and to simplify legislation.
	Copies of the plan are available from the Libraries of the House.

SCOTLAND

Air Traffic Control

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  what preparatory work has been completed in the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick;
	(2)  what plans she has to hold further meetings with (a) representatives of NATS and (b) others regarding the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick;
	(3)  if she will make a statement about her meeting with the senior management of NATS, held on 16 January;
	(4)  what requests she received from representatives of NATS asking for financial assistance for the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick (a) before 16 January and (b) at her meeting with the senior management of NATS on 16 January;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of the total cost for the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick; and how this figure differs from the estimated cost before the delay;
	(6)  what interim targets and dates have been set for the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick;
	(7)  what efforts she will make to monitor the progress of the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick;
	(8)  what is the completion date for the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick;
	(9)  when she last met (a) the Secretary of State for Transport and (b) the Under Secretary of State for Transport to discuss the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick.

Helen Liddell: My hon. Friend the Minister of State and I met with Richard Everitt, the CEO of National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) on 16 January. It was a useful and constructive meeting, at which I stressed the importance of the NATS new Scottish Centre (NSC) at Prestwick to the Scottish economy.
	Mr. Everitt confirmed that NATS remained committed to a two-centre strategy, and to the construction of the NSC at Prestwick to bring it into operation in the 200809 time scale. he has agreed to keep me informed over the coming months about NATS plans for implementation of the project.
	I continue to have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a wide range of transport issues which affect Scotland, including matters relating to the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick.
	I have not received any requests from NATS asking for financial assistance for the centre at Prestwick.
	NATS have indicated that their intention is to transfer staff from the existing centre at Prestwick to the new centre when it is completed. It is not expected that the operation of the new centre will result in additional jobs; however, there will be some additional short-term employment opportunities during the construction and commissioning phase.
	Although construction of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick is being deferred, contracts for the design of the building and initial site works are in progress and will be completed. The value of these contracts is a commercial matter between NATS and the contractors. Construction of the building and the design and installation of equipment systems will be subject to a competitive procurement process, which will determine the total costs of the new centre.

Television Sets

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by her Department in each of the last 24 months; and if she will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases.

Helen Liddell: My Department has not purchased any television sets in the last 24 months. There are no specific guidelines for making television purchases but Departments are required to consider the whole life cost when making any purchasing decision. Whole life costs take account of possible future obsolescence.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Freedom of Information Act

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proposals he has for reviewing the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what representations he has received on its operation.

Michael Wills: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is not yet fully in force. The Lord Chancellor set out his proposals for the implementation of the Act in his report to Parliament in November 2000. When the Act is in operation, it is for the Information Commissioner to draw to the Government's attention any changes to the Act she wishes to see, in her annual statutory report to Parliament.
	As the Act is not yet fully in force, no representations have been received on its operation.

IT Consultants

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much his Department spent on IT consultants in 199293, 199394 and 199495.

Michael Wills: Prior to 199596 information was not held centrally. On the best information available, I can provide total expenditure for external consultants for the specified period as set out in the table, but this cannot be broken down specifically for IT consultants.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199293 4.706 
			 199394 2.070 
			 199495 2.254

Criminal Justice Policy

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what proposals he has for the reform of criminal justice policy.

Michael Wills: The period of comment on Sir Robin Auld's report Review of the Criminal Courts closed on 31 January. The Government are now considering the recommendations in detail, including assessments of costs and benefits, and of comments received. The Government will announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper in the spring.

Criminal Justice Policy

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimates his Department has made of the costs of the proposals by Lord Justice Auld for reorganisation of the criminal courts in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Government have taken no decisions on Sir Robin Auld's review report. The period of comment closed on 31 January. The Government are now considering the recommendations in detail, including assessments of costs and benefits. The Government will announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper in the spring.

Magistrates Courts (Merseyside)

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what his budget for the magistrates courts was on Merseyside in each year since 199293.

Michael Wills: The Lord Chancellor's Department provides separate grants for revenue and capital (buildings and IT) to local authorities for magistrates courts costs. Grant is paid at 80 per cent. of expenditure, with the remaining 20 per cent. met by local authorities.
	The total budget (revenue and capital in 100 per cent. terms) for magistrates courts in Merseyside by financial year is:
	
		
			 Year  million 
		
		
			 199293 9.62 
			 199394 9.55 
			 199495 10.25 
			 199596 9.61 
			 199697 9.77 
			 199798 10.04 
			 199899 10.48 
			 19992000 10.73 
			 200001 10.92 
			 200102 12.72 
			 200203 11.28 
		
	
	Merseyside magistrates courts committee was formed by the amalgamation of five separate committees in April 1999. The cost figures for years before 19992000 are aggregates of the budgets of the five committees which then existed in Merseyside.

Magistrates Courts (Merseyside)

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations he has received about the operation of magistrates courts on Merseyside.

Michael Wills: I have received no representations about the operation of the magistrates courts on Merseyside.

Departmental Audit

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals she has for auditing the efficiency of (a) her Department and (b) the agencies for which she is responsible; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department carries out a wide-ranging programme for auditing its efficiency. This is undertaken by a professional internal audit service which operates to Government internal audit standards and which audits risk management, control and governance in the Department and its agencies on an annual basis. The National Audit Office is the external auditor for the Department and its agencies' accounts and also conducts value for money studies.

Census Online

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when she estimates the Census Online service will be made available to the public; and what will happen to the profits arising from Census Online.

Rosie Winterton: The Census Online service is currently available at 150 local centres around the country. At present effort is being concentrated on ensuring that, when the service returns to general internet access, it will be reliable. The charges for the census have been calculated on the basis of full cost recovery. Revenue generated by the operation of the service is intended to finance the set-up costs and the future digitisation of earlier census records.

Census Online

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the contractual arrangements are between QinetiQ and Census Online and the Public Record Office; if she will place copies of these in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 374W.

Census Online

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the estimated cost is to QinetiQ of carrying out the enhancements to the 1901 Census Online project.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 374W.

Criminal Courts Review

Tim Boswell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many internet users have attempted to access the Public Record Office online site for the 1901 census; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Record Office website and the 1901 census website are two distinct services. The former is attracting an increased number of users and continues to work normally. For an estimate of the number of users attempting to access the 1901 census website, I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor) on 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 89W.

Criminal Courts Review

Edward Garnier: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the results were of the evaluation undertaken by the Review of the Criminal Courts Regional Discussion Events which have taken place to date.

Michael Wills: At each event delegates were handed an evaluation form. The results of the answers are as follows: 93 per cent. of delegates who returned their evaluation forms believed that these events had value, 3 per cent. felt they did not and 4 per cent. abstained. 72 per cent. of these delegates felt they had enough opportunity to air their views, 24 per cent. did not and 4 per cent. abstained. 80 per cent. of delegates responding believed that the format of the event was effective, 13 per cent. felt that it was not and 7 per cent. abstained from answering. 86 per cent. of delegates who returned their forms would attend another event such as this, 11 per cent. felt they would not and 3 per cent. failed to answer. The number of returned forms varied at each event, for example, only seven forms were returned at Cambridge whereas at Birmingham 101 were returned.

Criminal Courts Review

Edward Garnier: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many people (a) attended, (b) registered but did not attend and (c) were refused registration at each of the Review of the Criminal Courts Regional Discussion Events which have taken place to date.

Michael Wills: The numbers of those who attended and those who registered but did not attend are included in the table. Registration was refused only where the number booked had reached the capacity of the room. Because of the large non-attendance rate at London, over booking was allowed for the events in Cardiff and Manchester.
	
		
			  Attended Did not attend Capacity of room 
		
		
			 Newcastle 95 13 150 
			 Cambridge 55 5 130 
			 London 171 129 300 
			 Exeter 59 25 120 
			 Birmingham 144 33 180 
			 Manchester 130 67 180 
			 Bradford 104 56 180 
			 Cardiff 90 28 110 
			  
			 Total 848 356

Transsexuals

David Rendel: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps she has taken to implement the recommendations of the Home Office report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what action she proposes to take in response to the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People.

Rosie Winterton: The report has been carefully considered within Government and by other interested groups. The Government are sympathetic to the issues raised in the report and are actively considering how to take the matter forward.

Private Finance Initiative (Consultants)

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total external spend by his Department was on Private Finance Initiative consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The total amount spent on PFI consultants over the last four years is as follows:
	1998: 836,427
	1999: 1,725,782
	2000: 1,317,391
	2001: 2,288,870.
	The total number of consultancy firms used over this period was 25. The other information requested regarding full-time equivalent consultants, billed consultancy days and the implied average cost of each consultant is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Queen's Counsel

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what account she is taking of the Office of Fair Trading recommendations on the appointment of Queen's Counsel in the current year's round; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: None. There were no OFT recommendations on the appointment of Queen's Counsel, which is beyond the scope of OFT powers. The report did raise questions for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor to consider, which he will do. The criteria for appointment of Queen's Counsel in the current year's round are set out in the Guide for Applicants, and in the Guide for Consultees. The current Guides have been available by post and on the Department's website since 28 August 2001.

Magistrates

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates have been appointed since 7 June 2001; and how many are (a) women, (b) black and (c) Asian.

Michael Wills: The figures are as follows:
	988 magistrates have been appointed since 7 June 2001, of which
	(a) 463 were women
	(b) 14 were black, and
	(c) 46 were Asian.

Juvenile Offenders

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many 17-year-old defendants were dealt with by the courts in Northern Ireland in 1998.

Rosie Winterton: In 1998, there were 1,008 17-year-old defendants dealt with by the courts in Northern Ireland.

Court Service

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the Court Service issued a notice concerning its policy on the declaration of God Save the Queen; and if she will place a copy of the notice in the Library.

Rosie Winterton: The Northern Ireland Court Service is the ministerial responsibility of the Lord Chancellor. The declaration of God Save the Queen on entry to and exit from the courts by the judiciary in Northern Ireland has been discontinued for some years. Court Service staff were reminded that there should be no declaration of God Save the Queen when the Criminal Justice Review Implementation Plan was published. A formal notice to that effect dated 25 January 2002 has now been issued and a copy has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Individual Learning Accounts

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the registered providers of individual learning accounts.

John Healey: holding answer 21 January 2002
	A list of registered learning providers has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason information concerning the availability of a disc containing personal details and identification numbers of individual learning account holders, given to Ministers on 21 November 2001, was not disclosed to hon. Members in the Westminster Hall debate on 11 December 2001; and for what reason this information was released to the Financial Times for publication on Wednesday 16 January.

John Healey: At the time of the debate on 11 December we believed it would adversely affect the conduct of the investigations to release this more detailed information. However, after a further five weeks we felt that it was possible to release this information without adversely affecting the investigations and the Minister did so in writing to the chair of the Select Committee in advance of the hearing on 16 January.

Individual Learning Accounts

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when an alternative scheme to the individual learning accounts will be put in place.

John Healey: holding answer 25 January 2002
	We are determined to review thoroughly all aspects of the operation of the ILA scheme. During January and February we are conducting a consultation with providers, learners and other stakeholders to take their views. The results will be an important element in developing a successor scheme.

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will announce a successor to the individual learning accounts scheme; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 11 January 2002
	We are determined to review thoroughly all aspects of the operation of the ILA scheme. During January and February we are undertaking a survey to gather the views of a wide range of ILA learning providers, a sample of learning account holders and key stakeholders. The results will be an important element in developing a successor scheme.

Pre-school and After-school Provision

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) day nurseries, (b) playgroups, (c) child minders, (d) out of schools clubs and (e) holiday schemes have been provided in the constituency of Buckingham in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested. The Department collects information on day nurseries and playgroups and pre-schools defined in terms of the full day or sessional care that they provide. It does not collect information on pre-schools separately from playgroups. The Department collects information in terms of local authorities and not constituencies.
	As a result of the local government reorganisation of Buckinghamshire in April 1997, information for 1997 is not comparable with that for later years.
	The available information for Buckinghamshire local authority is shown in the following table.
	
		Numbers of day care providers(17) by type of provider: Buckinghamshire local authority area, 19982001
		
			 Position at 31 March each year  1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Day nurseries  20 90 90 
			 Playgroups and pre-schools  70 200 200 
			 Child minders 1,300 450 1,100 1,100 
			 Out of school clubs  20 20 20 
			 Holiday schemes  10 (18)80 70 
		
	
	
		Numbers of day care places(17) by type of provider: Buckinghamshire local authority area, 19982001
		
			 Position at 31 March each year 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Day nurseries  1,050 2,430 1,397 
			 Playgroups and pre-schools 4,926 1,820 1,350 4,644 
			 Child minders  1,792 6,822 6,174 
			 Out of school clubs  546 210 417 
			 Holiday schemes  614 (18)1,630 4,156 
		
	
	(17) Figures have been rounded
	(18) Includes those schemes exempt from registration
	Source:
	The local authority provided the data
	Figures for March 2001 for England and Government Office regions were in Statistical Bulletin 08/01 Children's Day Care Facilities as at 31 March 2001 which is available at www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/ and from the Library.

Higher Education

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of higher education entrants in 200001 and 200102 (a) from Dartford and Gravesham and (b) in England were from social classes III, IV and V.

Margaret Hodge: The available information on the social class of higher education students in the UK, covering only those who apply to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) are given in the table; data on the family background of students on postgraduate or part-time courses are not held centrally. Comparable figures on the social class of HE students from each constituency are not held centrally.
	The Government are committed to raising the participation rates for people from less affluent family backgrounds, and have introduced Excellence Challenge, including the AimHigher campaign, which is targeted at raising attainment and aspirations among young people who traditionally would not consider going to university.
	
		UK domiciled accepted applicants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses in the UK
		
			   Year of entry  
			   200001 200102  
			 Social class Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 I Professional 38,800 14 39,700 14 
			 II Intermediate 117,700 44 120,800 44 
			 IIIN Skilled non-manual 37,800 14 38,800 14 
			 IIIM Skilled manual 44,400 17 48,400 18 
			 IV Partly skilled 24,200 9 23,100 8 
			 V Unskilled 5,500 2 5,600 2 
			 Total known 268,400 100 276,500 100 
			 Unknown 40,300  49,000  
			 Total 308,700  325,500  
		
	
	Source:
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

Higher Education

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students from socio-economic classes IIIm, IV and V she estimates higher education institutions will accept by (a) 2005 and (b) 2010; whether each higher education institution will be expected to accept the same proportion; what deviation from a standard proportion will be accepted; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: We are committed to widening participation in higher education, and we are raising the attainment and aspirations of young people from these social classes through our work in schools and colleges and the Excellence Challenge. As we progress towards our target to increase participation to 50 per cent. of those aged 1830 by the end of the decade, we expect the proportion from these social classes to increase. The Higher Education Funding Council for England will be setting targets to support this objective.

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her definition is of higher education.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 29 January 2002
	The Act of Parliament which defines courses of higher education is the Education Reform Act 1988. Schedule 6 of the Act describes courses of higher education as:
	(a) a course for the further training of teachers or youth and community workers;
	(b) a post-graduate course (including a higher degree course);
	(c) a first degree course;
	(d) a course for the Diploma of Higher Education;
	(e) a course for the Higher National Diploma or Higher National Certificate of the Business and Technician Education Council, or the Diploma in Management Studies;
	(f) a course for the Certificate in Education;
	(g) a course in preparation for a professional examination at higher level;
	(h) a course providing education at a higher level (whether or not in preparation for an examination).

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria the Government use for determining which higher education courses qualify for meeting the university participation target of 50 per cent. of people under the age of 30 years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 29 January 2002
	The target relates to good quality HE experiences. We are therefore including all courses of one year or more, above A level and its equivalents, that lead to a qualification awarded by higher education institutions or widely recognised national awarding bodies (eg the Institute of Management).
	We are also considering including a small number of professional qualifications of less than one year's duration, for example in nursing, law, business and management. We are currently seeking advice from the QCA as to whether the nature and content of these qualifications could appropriately be classified as being of a higher education standard.

Sixth-forms

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the transfer of responsibility for post 16 education from Coventry city council to the Learning and Skills Council; and for what reason an additional 1.5 million has been taken away from the SSA grant.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 23 January 2002
	The Learning and Skills Council will begin funding LEAs for the provision delivered in their school sixth-forms from April. LEAs will continue to pass funds to schools and retain their wider responsibilities for sixth-forms.
	The overall amount of funding that we have transferred to the LSC is 1.35 billion for 200203. This represents our best estimate of the likely funding for school sixth- forms in that year, taking into account growth in pupil numbers and in funding per pupil. The LSC issued provisional allocations for 200203 to LEAs and schools in December. These include funds for both mainstream sixth-forms and for post-16 pupils with special needs. The provisional allocation for Coventry was 11.8 million, of which almost 1 million was for provision for pupils with statements of SEN.
	Data on pupil numbers and qualifications taken from the September 2001 pupil count have been used to calculate funding levels for mainstream school sixth- forms under the LSC's formula. A higher proportion of schools than originally expected are being funded under the formula. For around two-thirds of sixth-forms it generates higher levels of funding than their underpinning real terms guarantee. The pattern in Coventry is broadly in line with this national picture.
	The total amount of funding passing to an LEA from the LSC for school sixth-forms will be matched by a deduction from their Education SSA. The allocations will be confirmed shortly.

New Schools

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the new schools built since 1997; and if she will list those granted funding to be built in the next two years.

John Healey: We do not hold information in the form requested. It is for local education authorities to determine the need for additional school places in the maintained sector and, where necessary, to build or support the provision of new schools. The Department makes available capital funding for new school places; many of these are provided in existing schools.

School Places

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 30 November 2001, Official Report, column 1209W, on school places, what application her Department has received from Buckingham local education authority for capital funding for school places in each year since 1997; and what the outcome was in each case.

John Healey: The table shows the number of new pupil places applied for by Buckinghamshire local education authority since 1998, the earliest year for which records are readily available, the number of places the Department recognised and supported and the amount of funding that was allocated. This support reflected the need for additional numbers of school places in areas of population growth where there was no capacity in any of the schools in the surrounding area.
	
		
			   Places applied for Places supported Funding allocated (000) 
		
		
			 199899 1,242 1,213 4,579 
			 19992000 881 847 5,372 
			 200001 452 384 2,490 
			 200102 342 271 1,822 
			 200203 495 495 4,203 
			  
			 Total 3,412 3,210 18,466

National Grid for Learning

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 712W, what the average National Grid for Learning funding has been per LEA in each year since 1997.

John Healey: National Grid for Learning funding through the Standards Fund began in 199899. Funding is allocated to LEAs by formula based on school and pupil numbers and any average would not be an accurate indication of the amount of funding allocated to each LEA. However, a notional average for National Grid for Learning allocations by LEA is:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199899 0.680 
			 19992000 0.700 
			 200001 1.366 
			 200102 1.633

Government-supported Training

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people were on Government training schemes in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: holding answer 30 January 2002
	This information is published in quarterly Statistical First Releases, which are in the Library of the House. The information is also available on the world wide web. Figures for England are on the Department for Education and Skills site at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/ DB/SFR/s0310/ index.html. Government supported training is a devolved matter in Wales, and figures for Wales are on the National Assembly for Wales site at http://www.wales.gov.uk/keypubstatisticsforwalesheadline/ content/post16education/2001/hdw20011221a-e.htm.

Sector Skills Development Agency

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the new Sector Skills Development Agency will be created.

John Healey: The Sector Skills Development Agency will come into existence from the beginning of April 2002. We expect to have a chair in place and other senior post holders identified by 31 March. A small support team will be in place from the beginning of April. The SSDA will have filled most posts by June 2002.

Schools (Harwich)

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been given to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the Harwich constituency for the refurbishment of school buildings since 1997.

John Healey: Information is not available in the form requested. Allocations of most capital funding for schools are made at local education authority level, which will hold information about how allocations have been made at school level.
	The new deal for schools (NDS) programme was introduced in 1997, particularly to focus on refurbishing schools and also to help address the backlog of urgent repairs in school buildings. The following table sets out the capital resources made available for schools in Essex under the NDS programme, including those already announced for future years. Total capital resources for schools allocated to Essex over the period 199798 to 200304 amount to 210 million.
	
		New deal for schools: Essex --  million
		
			  Allocation 
		
		
			 199798 1.2 
			 199899 2.6 
			 19992000 6.2 
			 200001 24.3 
			 200102 14.5 
			 200203 24.5 
			 200304 36.7 
			  
			 Total 110.0

School Sports Facilities

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have private sports facilities built on school grounds.

John Healey: The Department does not hold this information.

Mobile Phone Masts

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have sold land to mobile phone companies to build mobile phone masts since 1997.

John Healey: The Department does not collect this information.

Class Sizes (Lancashire)

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many five, six and seven-year old children were taught in classes of more than 30 pupils in Lancashire in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Stephen Timms: The total number of key stage 1 pupils in classes of 31 or more pupils taught by one teacher in Lancashire local education authority as at January 1997 and 2001 were 17,712 and 127 respectively.

Union Learning Fund

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the growth and development of the Union Learning Fund.

John Healey: Trade unions play a key role in promoting the development of learning and skills in the workplace. To help them do this my Department has provided financial support through the Union Learning Fund since 1998. This year (200102) funding will total 7 million, rising to 9 million next year and 11 million in 200304.
	When it was launched, the Union Learning Fund was a new and innovative experiment, but it has now become an established part of the lifelong learning agenda. It is helping trade unions use their influence with employers, employees and others to encourage greater take up of learning at work and boost their capacity as learning organisations. It has so far benefited over 25,000 people in the workplace through a wide variety of projects ranging from tackling basic skills needs to advanced professional development. It has also led to the development of a new breed of activist, the union learning representative, and helped to establish a network of over 3,000 learning representatives nationwide.
	Union learning representatives are ideally placed to help and encourage workers to improve their skills, particularly among the very lowest skilled workers and those with literacy and numeracy problems. That is why we have included a clause in the new Employment Bill that will give statutory backing to union learning representatives. It will reinforce the invaluable role that union learning representatives are currently playing in the workplace to promote work force development and open up new training opportunities for their colleagues.

Mature Students

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the proportion of (a) part-time and (b) full-time mature students entering higher education in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001.

Margaret Hodge: The available data for 1999 and 2000 are given in the table. Corresponding data for 2001 will be available in April 2002. Latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), covering full-time first degree and HND courses only, show that 63,700 home domiciled students aged 21 or over were accepted for entry in autumn 2001, an increase of 9.5 per cent. compared to the previous year. UCAS does not cover students applying for part-time undergraduate courses.
	The Government have introduced additional financial help for student parents, the great majority of whom are mature, including a child care grant and a travel and equipment grant.
	
		Home domiciled undergraduate entrants(19) in the UK -- Thousand
		
			19992000  200001  
			   Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Full-time 
			 Young(20) 277.4 73 276.1 73 
			 Mature(20) 103.1 27 103.1 27 
			  
			 Total 380.5 100 379.3 100 
			 Part-time 
			 Young(20) 23.7 9 24.5 8 
			 Mature(20) 249.1 91 274.7 92 
			  
			 Total 272.8 100 299.2 100 
		
	
	(19) Census count as at 1 December. Covers first degree, HND, HNC and all other undergraduate courses in both HE and FE institutions.
	(20) Young entrants are those aged under 21, mature are those aged 21 or over.

School Expenditure

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total expenditure per pupil was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Westminster, (ii) Kensington and Chelsea and (iii) each region in England in (A) 199798, (B) 200001, (C) 200102 and (D) projected for 200203.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		NIE per pupilunit cost
		
			  Pre-primary and primary Secondary  
			  199798 19992000 199798 19992000 
		
		
			 Cash terms 
			 LEA 
			 Westminster 2,550 2,770 3,120 3,350 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,650 2,850 3,460 3,650 
			 GOR 
			 North-east England 1,640 1,960 2,210 2,440 
			 North-west England 1,660 1,930 2,340 2,560 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,700 1,980 2,200 2,500 
			 East midlands 1,660 1,940 2,330 2,540 
			 West midlands 1,730 2,040 2,340 2,580 
			 Eastern England 1,720 1,940 2,390 2,560 
			 South-east England 1,690 2,000 2,320 2,510 
			 South-west England 1,660 1,930 2,300 2,510 
			 London 1,080  2,810  
			 Inner London  2,700  3,360 
			 Outer London  2,230  2,830 
			  
			 Real terms 
			 LEA 
			 Westminster 2,740 2,820 3,340 3,410 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,840 2,900 3,700 3,720 
			 GOR 
			 North-east England 1,750 2,000 2,370 2,480 
			 North-west England 1,780 1,960 2,510 2,600 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,820 2,020 2,350 2,550 
			 East midlands 1,780 1,980 2,500 2,580 
			 West midlands 1,850 2,080 2,500 2,630 
			 Eastern England 1,840 1,970 2,560 2,610 
			 South-east England 1,810 2,040 2,490 2,550 
			 South-west England 1,780 1,960 2,460 2,550 
			 London 2,230  3,010  
			 Inner London  2,740  3,420 
			 Outer London  2,270  2,880 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures consist of NIE per pupil in pre-primary/primary schools and secondary schools in 199798 and 19992000 (the most recent year for which the Department has finalised outturn data) and are in both cash and real terms.
	2. Expenditure data are drawn from RO1 (199798) and section 52 table 3 (19992000) returns. The expenditure data used to derive these unit costs cover all school based recurrent spending, including teaching and non-teaching staff salaries, school premises costs, equipment and supplies and unspent balances held by schools at the year end.
	3. Academic year pupil numbers are drawn from annual schools census data and a weighted average is taken to provide financial year estimates.
	4. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	5. Figures are converted from cash to real terms 200001 prices using the December 2001 GDP deflators.
	6. Information for 200001 and 200102 is not yet available and as a result it is not possible to arrive at a projection.

Coalfield Areas (Educational Attainment)

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the Government's strategies to raise educational attainment in present and former coalfield areas.

Stephen Timms: We have several strategies that are helping to raise educational attainment in coalfield and other areas. Standards of literacy and numeracy in primary schools are the highest they have ever been and evidence shows that the coalfields are benefiting from these strategies although we recognise that there is still work to be done.
	We published the Schools White Paper Achieving Success, last September, which sets out our vision for education for the years ahead. The Key Stage 3 strategy (11 to 14-year-olds) aims to build on the success at primary level but has been adapted to meet the more diverse and complex nature of the secondary curriculum.
	We have introduced floor targets so that every school, wherever it is based, will be supported to secure at least 20 per cent. of students with five good GCSEs by 2004, rising to 25 per cent. by 2006.
	Coalfield areas are also benefiting from more localised targeting with initiatives such as Excellence in Cities and Education Action Zones providing additional resources for schools serving disadvantaged areas. Coalfield areas already benefiting from these initiatives include Rotherham, St. Helens, Barnsley, Doncaster and Wigan.
	Matters relating to Wales, should be addressed to the Welsh assembly.

Pupil Mobility

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she (a) has introduced and (b) plans to implement in response to the report of the Migration Research Unit into the effect of pupil mobility on (i) schools and (ii) educational attainment.

Ivan Lewis: The report from the Migration Research Unit identified a number of groups of mobile pupils. In only one of these was an effect on attainment found. This was for those pupils who moved house frequently due to family break-up. The effects on schools included the need for flexible induction. Measures being introduced and that are planned for implementation include:
	A project with 22 schools facing challenging circumstances with high mobility to raise the attainment of mobile populations;
	Guidance on the Standards Site illustrating how schools with high mobility have effectively tackled this;
	Monitoring and evaluation of outcomes of mobile pupils through the use of unique pupil numbers.

Departmental Payments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the instances in which her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 200001.

Ivan Lewis: In the financial year 200001 the number of invoices not paid within 30 days or after the agreed credit period for the DfEE and its agencies are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 DfEE 10,420 
			 Employment Service 6,197 
		
	
	(21) 4.5 per cent. of all invoices paid
	(22) 3.0 per cent. of all invoices paid
	Information for the relevant non-departmental public bodies is not collected centrally.

Teacher Training Courses

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students failed to complete their teacher training courses; and what percentage of all the students on such courses this represented in the latest academic year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The numbers and rates of students failing to complete their teacher training courses are not collected centrally.
	The Initial Teacher Training Performance Profiles, published by the Teacher Training Agency show the number and percentage of final-year trainees at 1 December in England who subsequently failed to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) at the end of their final year. Latest figures are available for academic year 19992000 (ITT Performance Profiles 2001).
	In 19992000, there were 24,654 final-year trainees in England, of whom 2,960 failed to gain QTS at the end of their final year. This represented 12 per cent. of final-year trainees.
	These figures do not take into account drop-out during earlier years of the course, which mainly applies to undergraduate courses; and may include trainees awarded QTS after the November following the trainee's final year.

AS Levels

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many representations her Department has received since June 2001 critical of the AS Levels from (a) school governing bodies, (b) headteachers, (c) local education authorities, (d) teachers, (e) students and (f) parents.

Ivan Lewis: The Department received a total of 694 representations from 1 June 2001 to date in which criticism of some aspect of AS Levels was raised. Complete data are not available on the number of representations under the various categories as requested. However, available information suggests that the majority of correspondence came from parents and students.

Maintenance Grants

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much grant was paid to higher education students in 1979.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 1 February 2002
	The total amount paid in maintenance grants in academic year 197879 was 272 million (cash terms). There were 320,000 eligible higher education students, which equates to an average maintenance grant of 850 per student.

Key Stage 4

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to deregulate Key Stage 4; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: In the White Paper Schools: achieving success we said that it would be necessary to create more space at Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum and agreed that there is insufficient flexibility in the current system. We will shortly be publishing a consultation paper setting out more detailed proposals.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Open Skies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if it is his policy to seek to conclude a treaty between the UK and the USA on open skies before 31 January;
	(2)  if a treaty between the USA and the UK on open skies covers (a) cabotage, (b) wet leasing, (c) foreign ownership and (d) fifth freedoms; and if these issues need to be resolved before the UK would agree to a treaty;
	(3)  if it is his policy to seek full wet leasing rights for UK airlines in the USA before agreeing a new open skies treaty with that country;
	(4)  if it is Government policy that there should be a full reciprocation of rights and privileges between the carriers of both nations before the UK concludes a treaty on open skies with the USA;
	(5)  what assessment he has received on the balance of benefits to the UK economy of conceding fifth freedom access to the European market for USA airlines in return for the American authorities approval of the British Airways/American Airway alliance;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of the impact on UK carriers of granting rights at (a) Stansted and (b) other UK airports to USA carriers without reciprocal rights in the USA to UK carriers;
	(7)  if it is his policy to seek fifth freedom rights for UK airliners in the USA before agreeing a new open skies treaty with that country;
	(8)  when the next negotiations on open skies are scheduled to take place between the USA and the UK;
	(9)  if it his policy that an open skies treaty between the USA and the UK should be subject to review by the (a) European Court and (b) European Commission.

John Spellar: Negotiations on UK/US air services, which were scheduled to resume in Washington on 28 January, were postponed when it became clear that the prospect of a large part of the UK's airline industry gaining effective access to the large US domestic market had been removed. However, we remain committed to achieving the full and genuine liberalisation of the UK/US aviation market. In pursuing this policy we shall continue to be guided by a consideration of the widest spectrum of UK consumer and economic interests.
	In negotiating air services agreements we seek to make balanced exchanges of rights. A liberalisation deal would, by definition, include more liberal traffic rights for the carriers of each side so, if granted, fifth freedom rights in a new UK/US Agreement would be available to the carriers of both sides.
	It remains Government policy to seek to persuade the US Government to open up their large domestic market to competition from UK carriers, both passenger and cargo.
	The UK has no policy that air services agreements which it concludes with the US, or indeed with any other country, should be subject to review by the European Court or the European Commission.

Fares

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what assumptions about future fare levels the 10-year plan and the SRA strategic plan are based.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to page 26 of the SRA Strategic Plan and to page 9 of the 10-year plan background analysis document.

East London Line

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will make a further statement on the East London line.

John Spellar: I have no immediate plans to make a further statement.

East London Line

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimates he has made of the availability of network capacity to run East London line trains to Croydon.

John Spellar: The Strategic Rail Authority, in taking the project forward, has determined that network capacity is available for a service to operate to Croydon.

Central Railway

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the situation concerning the Central Railway proposal.

John Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson), to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 17W.

South Central

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who will have executive responsibility for establishing the special purpose financing vehicle for investment in routes operated by South Central.

David Jamieson: The terms on which any special purpose vehicle is set up, and the responsibility for doing so, are a matter for negotiation among the parties.

Crossrail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to promote crossrail through a hybrid bill.

John Spellar: A final decision has yet to be taken on the most appropriate method for securing powers for any crossrail scheme.

Crossrail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the promoters of crossrail will be able to bring forward and construct the scheme earlier than envisaged in the SRA strategic plan; and if he will provide public financial support for such a move.

John Spellar: As the plan states, options for taking forward the scheme are being developed by the SRA/TfL joint venture Cross London Rail Links Ltd. Timing of the next stages will depend on the outcome of that work, and construction of a scheme will depend upon the necessary powers being obtained.

Crossrail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he last met the Mayor of London to discuss crossrail.

John Spellar: Various crossrail issues were on the agenda when I chaired the most recent meeting of the High-Level London Rail Group on 17 January. The Mayor of London and the chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority are co-members of the group.

Crossrail

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what status the Crossrail project has within the Strategic Rail Authority plans up to 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The SRA's Strategic Plan makes it clear that a number of major schemes, including Crossrail, are being explored further in terms of feasibility and value for money. The authority has underlined its commitment to Crossrail by providing half of the 154 million funding for the new company which is currently undertaking development work.

Tyne and Wear Metro

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if it is his policy to allow mixed use of lines by heavy and light rail services on routes, in a similar way to the Tyne and Wear Metro extension.

John Spellar: Mixed use of lines by heavy and light rail services is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Any proposal for dual use would entail a fundamental change to the safety case of the infrastructure operator. The HSE would consider an application on that basis. For example, HSE approval of the Tyne and Wear Metro extension was dependent on all signals on the Metro extension being fitted with an automatic train protection system similar to those fitted to the rest of this stretch of the mainline network.

Rail Strategic Plan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2002, Ref 30261, Official Report, column 324W, if he will list the infrastructure projects that will not require some funding through special purpose vehicles.

David Jamieson: This will be a matter for consideration case by case.

Rail Strategic Plan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions where the development work on the 10-year plan identified 23 per cent. spare capacity on the rail network in forming its assumptions for future growth potential.

John Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to footnote 7 on page 10 of the 10-year plan background analysis document.

Rail Strategic Plan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the level of unallocated financial reserves in the total allocation for the 10-year plan on (a) 14 January and (b) 30 January.

John Spellar: The level of the unallocated provision in the total allocation for the 10-year plan on both (a) 14 January 2002 and (b) 30 January 2002 was 6.7 billion.

Rail Strategic Plan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 321W, ref 31540, what proportion of the funding relates to each of (i), (ii) and (iii).

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 175W, with (i) relating to the transfer from the unallocated budget in the 10-year plan while (ii) and (iii) relate to the funding additional to the original 10-year plan.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 321W, ref 31541, if he will make a statement on the timetable required to achieve the target dates for the complete opening of the East London line as outlined in the SRA strategic plan.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 866W.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 320W, ref 26291, what took place between the meeting with the Chairman of Railtrack and 6 August that led him to appoint advisers.

David Jamieson: My officials met with Railtrack's financial advisers between these two dates.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 321W, ref 31540, if he will make a statement on the cost implications of the October 2000 final conclusions of the Rail Regulator's periodic review of access charges.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to Appendix D of the October 2000 final conclusions.

Multi-modal Studies

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated cost is of multi-modal studies initiated since 1997.

David Jamieson: The estimated cost of the programme of multi-modal studies is 30 million excluding VAT.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in which financial years the additional finance for the railways announced on 29 January will be allocated and spent.

David Jamieson: The profile of the 33.5 billion of Government funding for the railways was set out in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 87172W. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 175W, setting out where this increase in funding is to come from.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions by what means he has set a target figure for private investment in rail under the 10 year plan.

John Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 53 and 54 of the 10-year plan background analysis document.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional projects he will bring forward following the additional finance for the railways announced on 29 January.

John Spellar: The 4.5 billion increase in public funding has been factored into the prioritised investment programme set out in the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan.

Railways

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 872W, what the annual public investment in railways was in each year since 197879, calculated on the same basis.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to Table 4.2 of the Strategic Rail Authority's quarterly national Rail Trends bulletin, and for years before 198687 to the British Rail annual report and accounts.

London Underground

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the PPP scheme for London Underground will deliver additional capacity at a faster rate than projected passenger growth.

John Spellar: The modernisation plans have been designed to eliminate London Underground's massive investment backlog and ensure that the existing infrastructure is brought up to, and maintained at, modern standards, both now and in the future.
	At the same time the plans will deliver improved waiting times, journey times and crowding levels on all underground lines, which will result in increased passenger capacity.
	Against this background London Underground believe that capacity increases should keep pace with likely forecast increases in demand.

Investment

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total public sector investment in transport was between 1987 and 1997; and what the figure is in 2002 prices.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to Table 4.2 of the Strategic Rail Authority's quarterly national Rail Trends bulletin.

Investment

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much public money was invested in the railways in each year from 1990.

John Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to Table 4.1 of the Strategic Rail Authority's quarterly National Rail Trends bulletin for an historic series of Government support to the rail industry.

Rail Projects

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost of setting up a special purpose financing vehicle; and from what source funding will be drawn to finance the establishment of such financing vehicles for rail projects.

John Spellar: Section 4 of the SRA Strategic Plan discusses the issues involved in developing and implementing special purpose vehicles. Funding issues will be addressed as part of this process.

Official Engagements

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list his official engagements since 16 November 2001; and what mode of transport he used to get to engagements outside Westminster.

Stephen Byers: My arrangements for official travel are made in line with guidance set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code and the accompanying guidance document Travel by Ministers, using the most efficient and cost-effective mode of transport, and bearing in mind security considerations.
	I travelled by car to four engagements in London, in the city, Bloomsbury, Dalston and Pall Mall on 20 November, 5 December, 6 December and 11 December, and one in Newcastle on 3 December.

Millennium Dome

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 1018W, on the millennium dome, what advice he has received on when the holes in the lining of the two skin roof of the millennium dome will be repaired.

Sally Keeble: Although the holes in the inner lining of the roof of the dome did not affect the operation and effectiveness of the roof and the lining, the holes were repaired in late December 2001, while carrying out other work near the top of the dome, since this offered a cost-effective opportunity to undertake repair.

Millennium Dome

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 17W, on the Millennium Dome, if he will state for each visitor to the millennium dome since 1 July whether they visited the interior of the millennium dome, indicating the length and purpose of safety training they received; and in how many cases no safety training was received; and for what reason.

Sally Keeble: The information is not available centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Central Line

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what feasibility study has been carried out into the construction of a new Central line station at Bishopsgate; and what conclusion that study reached.

John Spellar: This is a matter for London Underground, who advise that no business case could be made for this option. The cost was then estimated at around 50 million. The benefits of a station for users in the Bishopsgate area were largely outweighed by the time penalty which would have resulted for users travelling through.

Satellite Television Dishes

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 20W, on satellite television dishes, if he will make a statement on the process by which he will review planning regulations relating to satellite terminals to determine how current rules could be relaxed to facilitate broadband deployment; and when he plans to announce the result of the review.

Sally Keeble: As indicated in our Broadband Strategy, published on 3 December 2001, we shall review planning regulations relating to satellite terminals to determine how current rules could be relaxed to facilitate broadband deployment, while continuing to minimise the environmental and visual impact of residential satellite terminals.
	We are currently considering the process by which the review will be taken forward.

Golden Jubilee

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the golden jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the golden jubilee.

Alan Whitehead: The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and other Ministers in his Department will fully support the golden jubilee celebrations, attending official events as invited. The Department has played a full role in supporting the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in making suitable preparations for the golden jubilee programme.

Government Expenditure (London)

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total Government expenditure in each London borough (a) was in each of the past five years and (b) is planned for 200203, broken down into (i) Revenue Support Order Standard spending assessment, (ii) education special projects, (iii) education capital spending, (iv) housing capital spending, (v) Single Regeneration Budget and (vi) crime prevention.

Alan Whitehead: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Rail Delays

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost to business of rail delays in each of the past five years.

John Spellar: The Department has made no such estimate.

Housing (Birmingham)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the change in annual revenue available for financing investment in Birmingham's council housing if stock transfer goes ahead; and what assumptions he has made in calculating this figure.

Sally Keeble: This is a matter for Birmingham city council to determine as part of its assessment of investment options. Its 2001 Housing Revenue Account Business Plan suggests that there is a funding shortfall over the 30 year life of the plan of 351 million. The current housing transfer proposal meets the investment needs in full.

Rail Speed Restrictions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the (a) location and (b) line where temporary speed restrictions are in force on the railway.

John Spellar: This is an operational matter for Railtrack.

Social Housing

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what entitlement there is to social housing for British citizens leaving Zimbabwe because of the internal situation in that country.

Sally Keeble: British citizens returning to the UK from overseas have the same entitlement to local authority housing as citizens already resident provided they are habitually resident in the Common Travel Area (CTA), that is, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Unless resuming a previous period of habitual residence within the CTA, they would need to demonstrate, among other things, that their future centre of interest lay in the UK in order to establish habitual residence. Some local housing authorities currently set additional qualifying criteria.
	British citizens returning to the UK from overseas are entitled to apply for social housing held by other registered social landlords (housing associations). They are also eligible to seek assistance from social services authorities under the National Assistance Act 1948 or the Children Act 1989, if necessary.

Concessionary Coach Travel

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which coach companies have agreed to participate in the national concessionary coach travel scheme for pensioners.

Sally Keeble: As my hon. Friend will know from my written answer of 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 725W, my Department is currently discussing with representatives of the coach industry implementation of the proposal that concessionary fares for older and disabled passengers should be offered on scheduled long distance coach services in return for those services becoming eligible for fuel duty rebate.
	We aim to complete these discussions as soon as possible with the intention, as previously announced, of bringing forward regulations during 200203 to implement this proposal. Until details are finalised, I would not expect any company to confirm participation in these new arrangements. However, my expectation is that the scheme will involve the majority of, if not all, relevant services.

Train Protection Systems

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the (a) lives that would be saved and (b) track worker lives lost over 10 years by the alternative train protection systems under consideration; and if he will give the (i) capital and (ii) running costs of each system.

David Jamieson: A steering group chaired by the Strategic Rail Authority and Railway Safety is presently evaluating options for the extension of automatic train protection systems and their costs.

Local Authority Housing (London)

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was (a) the actual and (b) percentage change in the number of council and RSL homes available to let between 199798 and 200001 in each local authority in London.

Sally Keeble: The number of properties owned by local authorities and registered social landlords which were reported as being vacant and available for letting in each London borough at the start of each year was as follows.
	
		Local authority and registered social landlord management vacant(23) dwellings
		
			As at end of year Change Change 
			   199798 200001 Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 510 382 -128 -25 
			 Barnet 217 172 -45 -21 
			 Bexley 187 73 -114 -61 
			 Brent 270 188 -82 -30 
			 Bromley 207 274 67 32 
			 Camden 364 192 -172 -47 
			 City of London 14 11 -3 -21 
			 Croydon 256 201 -55 -21 
			 Ealing 181 134 -47 -26 
			 Enfield 243 178 -65 -27 
			 Greenwich 437 204 -233 -53 
			 Hackney 546 490 -56 -10 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 287 210 -77 -27 
			 Haringey 369 184 -185 -50 
			 Harrow 70 80 10 14 
			 Havering 200 247 47 24 
			 Hillingdon 122 119 -3 -2 
			 Hounslow 160 129 -31 -19 
			 Islington 770 290 -480 -62 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 216 154 -62 -29 
			 Kingston upon Thames 80 93 13 16 
			 Lambeth 572 403 -169 -30 
			 Lewisham 367 248 -119 -32 
			 Merton 83 71 -12 -14 
			 Newham 473 299 -174 -37 
			 Redbridge 98 192 94 96 
			 Richmond upon Thames 149 87 -62 -42 
			 Southwark 601 408 -193 -32 
			 Sutton 107 52 -55 -51 
			 Tower Hamlets 479 399 -80 -17 
			 Waltham Forest 283 206 -77 -27 
			 Wandsworth 296 245 -51 -17 
			 Westminster 354 196 -158 -45 
			 London total 9,568 6,811 -2,757 -29 
		
	
	(23) Management vacants are those available for letting immediately, or after completion of only minor repairs.
	Source:
	DTLR annual Housing Investment Programme and Housing Corporation RS returns
	There will always be a certain level of empty properties for operational reasons, including those vacant for very short periods between tenants.

Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many public appointments he has made since 7 June 2001; and if he will list the names of the persons appointed.

Sally Keeble: DTLR Ministers made 20 appointments and 17 reappointments between 7 June 2001 and 31 December 2001 to its non-departmental public bodies. These were:
	
		
			   Non-departmental public bodies 
		
		
			 Appointments  
			 Timothy Corner(24) 
			 Hazel Duffy(24)Advisory Panel on Standards for the 
			 Anthony Prior(24)Planning Inspectorate 
			 Gill Richardson(24) 
			 Richard Bowker 
			 Mike HodgkinsonCommission for Integrated Transport 
			 Sir Roy McNulty 
			 Baroness Scott 
			 Stephen Richards Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Wales 
			 John Bowen(25) Audit Commission 
			 Victor Benjamin Commission for the New Towns and English Partnerships 
			 Janet Putman Housing Action Trust, Castle Vale 
			 Geraldine Huka Housing Corporation 
			 Richard Bowker Strategic Rail Authority 
			 Liane Farrier Rent Assessment Panel, Southern 
			 Jane Perrett Traffic Area, North Eastern 
			 Jane Perrett Traffic Area, North Western 
			 David Ibbs Valuation Tribunal, West Midlands West 
			 Sir Roy McNultyCivil Aviation Authority 
			 Helen Simpson 
			   
			 Reappointments  
			 Charlie Watson Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate 
			 Kenneth George Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Wales 
			 Judith Curson(25) Audit Commission 
			 Yvonne HutchinsonHousing Corporation 
			 Andrew Winckler 
			 Lew Adams 
			 Pen KentStrategic Rail Authority 
			 David Quarmby 
			 Maldwyn Chapman Rent Assessment Panel, London 
			 Donald Perry Cooke Rent Assessment Panel, Southern 
			 Patrick Mulvenna Traffic Area, North East 
			 Patrick Mulvenna Traffic Area, North West 
			 Richard McFarlane Traffic Area, Scottish 
			 Alan Bourlet 
			 Alan JenkinsTraffic Area, West Midland and Wales 
			 Alan Maddrell 
			 Colin Senior Civil Aviation Authority 
		
	
	(24) These appointments are made jointly with the First Minister for Wales
	(25) These appointments are made jointly with the Secretaries of State for Health and Wales

Shipping (Safety)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures have been introduced since 1997 to improve the safety of seamen involved in merchant shipping and fishing.

David Jamieson: The United Kingdom is a signatory to all international maritime Conventions, a number of which have been updated since 1997 to enhance the safety of seafarers. In particular we will have fully met our international obligations with respect to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 as amended in 1995, by the date of its implementation on 1 February 2002. The Convention requirements will apply to all officers and crew serving on UK registered merchant ships and includes the introduction of mandatory safety and up- grade training for certificate of service holders and fishermen serving on certain categories of merchant ships.
	Further, the United kingdom has fully participated in the development of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is closely liaising with the fishing industry with respect to implementation.
	Additionally a joint UK/EU funded programme for safety training for fishermen was introduced on 1 April 2001. This programme will run for three years and introduces a 'safety awareness course' as an additional requirement to the Fishing Vessels (Safety Training) Regulations 1989 and allocates funding for this and other basic training.

Shipping (Safety)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to strengthen the rules on flags of convenience.

David Jamieson: Our primary concern is with the safety of those who crew and travel on ships, and with the protection of the marine environment. Analysis suggests that some open registers have a better safety and environmental performance than some of the more traditional maritime flags. We are working with like-minded states within the International Maritime Organisation, including the more reform-minded open registers, to raise the level of flag state performance. The wider shipping industry is also making a helpful contribution within the context of the international Quality Shipping Campaign.

Marine Industry

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the importance of the marine industry; and what support the Government have provided.

David Jamieson: Britain is a natural maritime nation, so shipping is vitally important to us. 95 per cent. of our trade by weight arrives or leaves by sea, and the UK shipping industry is one of our biggest service-sector exporters. The UK industry was, however, in decline until we introduced our new shipping policy. A central element of our new policy is the tonnage tax, which brings certainty and clarity about tax liabilities, which are related to the tonnage of the ship operated rather than to actual profits made. Shipping companies are not obliged to enter the tonnage tax regime or to register their ships in the UK, but the new climate created by the tonnage tax, together with reforms at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, has helped to bring about significant increases in the UK registered fleet.
	A key feature of the tonnage tax, unique to the UK, is a minimum training obligation. This requires each shipping company opting for the tonnage tax to recruit and train one officer trainee each year for every 15 officer posts in its fleet and also give consideration to employment and training opportunities for ratings. The Government provide financial support for seafarer training through the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme. Following a review of SMarT in autumn/winter 2000 and the receipt of EU State Aid clearance, additional courses will be included in the scheme and levels of funding will be increased.

Speed Limits

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made of the proportion of motorists who exceeded the speed limit in 2001.

David Jamieson: The Department monitors traffic speeds and traffic levels at about 130 sites on different types of road throughout Great Britain. The information comes from automatic traffic counters, which are generally situated away from junctions, hills or sharp bends, at locations where traffic is likely to be free flowing. Thus in principle they provide information on the speeds at which drivers choose to travel when their behaviour is not constrained by congestion or other road conditions.
	Results are published annually. The latest available results relate to 2000 and were published in 'Vehicle Speeds in Great Britain: 2000', in July 2001. A copy is in the House of Commons Library. Results for 2001 will be published when they are ready later this year.

Merchant Ships' Officers

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action the Government plan to improve recruitment and retention of merchant ships' officers.

David Jamieson: Recruitment and retention are matters for the individual shipping companies themselves. There are Government measures, however, to assist and encourage the training and employment of British seafarers. We provide financial support for seafarer training through the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme. Following a review of SMarT in autumn/winter 2000 and the receipt of EU State Aid clearance, additional courses will be included in the scheme and levels of funding will be increased. We introduced the Tonnage Tax option as part of the Finance Act 2000, a key feature of which is a minimum training obligation. This feature is unique to the UK, and requires each shipping company opting for the tonnage tax to recruit and train one officer trainee each year for every 15 officer posts in its fleet and also give consideration to employment and training opportunities for ratings.

Ordnance Survey

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of Ordnance Survey's progress in facilitating the work of Government by collaboration with other data providers.

Sally Keeble: A specific assessment has not been made of Ordnance Survey's progress in facilitating the work of government by collaboration with other data providers. However, it is clear that a number of initiatives by Ordnance Survey in recent years has increased other data providers' input to the national topographic database.
	One initiative has been the CODES project, Collection of Data from External Sources, where data from architects, house builders and construction companies has been taken into the database. Commercial terms have been agreed for the use of these data such that Ordnance Survey costs have reduced and customers in both the public and private sectors have benefited from more up-to-date mapping being available sooner. The inclusion of this type of data will increase further in the coming months.
	In addition, Ordnance Survey has developed its policies on working with data providers following responses to Information Paper 13/1999 'Joined-up geography for the new millennium' and Consultation paper 1/2000 'Digital National Framework'. Both of these documents are within the public domain and can be found on the Ordnance Survey website.
	The launch of OS MasterMap in November 2001, with its system of unique referencing for every individual map feature, provides new opportunities for data providers and customers to link their own information to Ordnance Survey data. Ordnance Survey actively promotes the benefits of such data association and integration among its customers and partners. Some additional layers of OS MasterMap are already being taken forward in collaboration with other data providers.
	The continued growth of licensed partners and their development of new and innovative products is at the heart of Ordnance Survey's business model. These products draw on Ordnance Survey's own data and data from other providers.

Ordnance Survey

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what operations Ordnance Survey carries out in partnerships with private sector bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Ordnance Survey works with a range of private sector bodies in support of the delivery of its products and services. A wide range of activities are currently conducted in conjunction with the private sector including aerial photography, cyclical revision and the IT infrastructure.
	Ordnance Survey is in the process of negotiating a new long-term strategic agreement, Contract 2002, with a small group of private sector organisations. This agreement will operate in the spirit of partnership to deliver urban and rural cyclical revision work and other associated data collection activities.
	All such commercial agreements are regarded by both Ordnance Survey and our partners as being strictly commercial in confidence. However, it would be both inappropriate and a breach of confidentiality publicly to disclose details of any of these arrangements.

Passenger Transport Authorities

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to allow representation of transport users on passenger transport authorities.

Sally Keeble: Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs) are formally composed of elected members from the relevant metropolitan district councils, as set out in primary legislation. I believe that PTAs have a good record of consulting passengers and their representatives, and therefore have no plans to change current arrangements.

Passenger Transport Authorities

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on levels of remuneration of PTA members.

Sally Keeble: Passenger Transport Authorities are able to pay allowances to their members under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Regulations under these acts provide that it is for each local authority to decide its scheme and the amounts to be paid under that scheme. These provisions apply to joint authorities such as Passenger Transport Authorities. The amounts of remuneration to PTA members under such schemes are therefore matters for local determination.

SRA Spending

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of Strategic Rail Authority spending will be made in (a) London, (b) the south-east of England and (c) Yorkshire and Humber in the next 10 years.

John Spellar: Each individual rail project and improvements negotiated through franchise agreements will usually benefit more than one part of Britain. The Strategic Rail Authority has therefore not attempted to break down its planned expenditure on a regional basis.

Bellwin Scheme

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will modify the Bellwin scheme to allow unitary authorities to recoup costs incurred by flood damage.

Nick Raynsford: Section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 already allows payment of Bellwin grant to any local authority that satisfies the conditions. Local authorities specified in the Act include county councils, district councils and London borough councils. This definition covers unitary authorities.

Integrated Ticketing/Transport Information

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 534W, on totaljourney.com, what assessments he has made of the impact of the decision to cease operation of the site on the delivery of targets for integrated ticketing and transport information.

David Jamieson: Totaljourney.com made a valuable contribution to integrated ticketing and transport information by offering both rail and air tickets. There are currently other websites offering similar services but none which exactly replicate Totaljourney.com. In the longer term, Transport Direct will be introduced and will offer information and the ability to buy a ticket on all modes of transport. We are working with operators and local authorities to deliver this. The demise of Totaljourney.com is not expected to delay Transport Direct.

Rail Services

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 529W, if he will (a) place in the Library and (b) publish on the Strategic Rail Authority website the monthly punctuality of train operating companies.

David Jamieson: The SRA publishes twice a year a bulletin (On Track) which includes information on the performance of each franchise operator. This bulletin is placed in the Library and on the SRA website.

Telecommunication Masts

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many applications for planning permission for mobile phone masts were made in South Tyneside; and how many mobile phone masts were erected in South Tyneside in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

Sally Keeble: The information is not held centrally. I understand from information held by the local planning authority that South Tyneside council received 26 planning applications for the construction of mobile phone masts within its administrative area during the three year period 19992001: one in 1999, 11 in 2000 and 14 in 2001. 12 of these applications received planning permission. As a result of these decisions six masts were built during this period, four in 2000 and two in 2001.

Toll Bridges and Tunnels

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the (a) bridges and (b) tunnels in the United Kingdom subject to tolls; and what is the rate payable at each toll.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions only has policy responsibility for tolled bridges and tunnels in England. My hon. Friend should contact the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales for information about tolled undertakings within their jurisdiction.
	Following is a list of statutory tolled bridges and tunnels. Toll rates at each of these crossings often vary based on the classification of vehicle using the particular crossing; therefore, for simplicity the list only shows the tolls charged for motorcars and large goods vehicles:
	
		 
		
			 Undertaking Motorcar Large goods vehicle 
		
		
			 Aldwark Bridge(26) 0.15 0.80 
			 Clifton Suspension Bridge(26) 0.20 0.20 
			 Dartford Crossings(26) 1.00 2.90 
			 Dunham Bridge(26) 0.20 0.40 
			 Humber Bridge(26) 2.40 9.60 to 16.10 
			 Itchen Bridge(26) 0.60 1.00 to 25.00 
			 Mersey Tunnels(26) 1.20 2.40 to 4.80 
			 Rixton and Warburton Bridge(26) 0.12 0.12 
			 Severn Bridges(27) 4.40 13.30 
			 Shrewsbury (Kingsland) Bridge(26) 0.10 0.10 
			 Swinford Bridge(26) 0.05 0.20 
			 Tamar Bridge(27) 1.00 2.50 to 5.50 
			 Tyne Tunnel(26) 1.00 1.20 
			 Whitchurch Bridge(26) 0.08 0.50 
			 Whitney on Wye Bridge(26) 0.50 1.00 
		
	
	(26) Each way
	(27) One way
	There are also a number of unregulated private bridges where a toll is charged for the right to cross private land. A complete list of these undertakings is not available.

Marine Accidents Investigation Board

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the (a) average time and (b) maximum permitted time taken to complete an investigation by the Marine Accidents Investigation Board in the last five years.

David Jamieson: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is required by the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1999 to cause a report of an investigation into an accident to be made publicly available in the shortest time possible. The target time for publishing a report is nine months. The average time taken to complete an investigation and publish reports in the past five years has been 9.8 months. There is no maximum permitted time.

Marine Accidents Investigation Board

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to publish the report by the Marine Accidents Investigation Board into the sinking of the Solway Harvester.

David Jamieson: Subject to there being no unforeseen last minute delay, the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch intends to publish its report of the sinking of the Solway Harvester during the last week in February 2002.

Mobile Phones (Car Drivers)

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations his Department has received on the banning of mobile phone use by car drivers.

David Jamieson: The Department regularly receives representations from the public and from Members of Parliament about banning the use of mobile phones use by drivers.

Community Transport Schemes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 202W, on community transport schemes, what sources of finance will be available to sustain community transport schemes when the Rural Bus Challenge scheme is ended.

Sally Keeble: Current spending plans provide for at least two further annual Rural Bus Challenge competitions. However, it was never envisaged that the Rural Bus Challenge scheme would provide funding for particular projects on a permanent basis.
	In addition to the possibility of further funding from an authority's existing Rural Bus Subsidy Grant allocation, which I mentioned in my previous answer, local authorities have powers to provide continuing support from their own resources for projects which meet a public transport need which would not otherwise be met. Authorities also have discretion to use capital funding allocated by my Department for small scale integrated transport measures to provide capital support for community transport projects, in line with the priorities in their local transport plans.
	Funding is also available for community transport, and other, projects in rural areas through the Rural Transport Partnership and Parish Transport Grant schemes.

Planning Appeals

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has completed his review of the effectiveness of the changes to the planning appeal procedures implemented on 1 August 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Revised procedures were introduced on 1 August 2000 to improve the handling of planning appeals by inquiry, hearing, and written representations to streamline the process and make the arrangements fairer and more transparent. When launching the new arrangements we indicated that their operation would be monitored and reviewed after a year.
	We have now completed the review in conjunction with the Planning Inspectorate and a wide range of stakeholders, including appellants, local planning authorities, planning agents, and third parties. Local planning authorities were surveyed and a series of stakeholder meetings was held.
	Overall, the new rules are meeting the objectives of improved handling and greater fairness. The new arrangements represented a radical change of culture for all concerned. Strict enforcement of deadlines has had a big impact on parties' delivery of documents and has contributed to improved performance by the Planning Inspectorate in deciding planning appeals over the last year. There is now greater recognition and acceptance that all parties have a responsibility in making the appeals system work smoothly.
	We have concluded that no further changes to the procedures should be made at this stage. Rather, we intend to allow more time for the new rules to bed in. In the meantime, it is essential that all parties adhere to deadlines and do not seek to gain advantage over others by failing to do so. We shall continue to reinforce this message and to keep the operation of the procedures closely under review. We do not rule out the possibility of further measures to improve the operation of the planning appeals procedures to tackle abuses and to improve the speed of decisions.
	The Planning Green Paper which we published on 12 December 2001 notes the dramatic improvements made by the Planning Inspectorate in the timeliness of appeal decisions and that we are working with them to consider ways in which the targets we set for this work might be improved still further without compromising quality.
	We welcome the publication on 30 January of Planning Practice Standard: Handling Appeals in England, prepared by the Royal Town Planning Institute with the active involvement of the Planning Inspectorate. This gives helpful good practice advice on participation in the planning appeals system and underlines the importance of parties acting in a responsible, co-operative and timely manner and of observing high standards of professional conduct.

Greater London Authority

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what level of general grant he will set for the Greater London Authority in 200203.

Nick Raynsford: General GLA Grant for 200203 has today been determined at 27.95 million, after consultation with the Mayor of London. This includes provision for accommodation costs at City Hall, the landmark building the Government are providing for the GLA and the Londoners from June this year.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Transport Directive

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which the provisions as outlined in the European directive on animal transport (Council Directive 91/625/EEC, as amended by 95/628/EEC) are working to protect non-human primates during transport; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: This is a matter that we shall take up with the European Commission later this year when they bring forward proposals to improve and update Directive 91/628/EEC, as amended, on the protection of animals during transport.

BSE

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what operational changes have resulted in changes in the number of cases of BSE confirmed by active surveillance.

Elliot Morley: The increase in positive cases of BSE identified by active surveillance is a direct result of the expansion of our active surveillance programme since 1 July 2001.
	In July 2001, in Great Britain we tested nearly 4,000 cattle of which 0.5 per cent. were confirmed as positive; in December 2001 we tested nearly 19,000 cattle of which 0.4 per cent. were confirmed as positive.

Air Pollution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days of (a) moderate, (b) high and (c) very high air pollution there were recorded at Lullington Heath, East Sussex, in each year since 1997.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 31 January 2002
	The numbers of days of moderate, high and very high pollution at Lullington Heath since 1997 are given in Table 1. Pollution at each site is defined according to the pollutant that is in the highest band during the day. Ratified data are available up to 30 September 2001. After this date, care must be taken in interpretation of the pollution levels recorded, since high measurements may be the result of instrument error that is still to be identified.
	
		Table 1: Number of days of moderate, high and very high air pollution at Lullington Heath, East Sussex in each year since 1997
		
			   Level  
			  Moderate High Very high 
		
		
			 1997 77 3 0 
			 1998 47 1 0 
			 1999 83 5 0 
			 2000 43 0 0 
			 2001 54 3 0 
		
	
	All the days of moderate, high and very high pollution recorded at Lullington Heath were due to ozone pollution. There were no recorded days of moderate, high or very high pollution for nitrogen dioxide or sulphur dioxide in any of the five years. High air pollution episodes due to ozone are recorded only in the summer months. The pollution is linked to hot sunny weather when industrial and motor vehicle emissions react under these conditions to form ground-level ozone. Light easterly winds sometimes bring this pollution across to the UK from central Europe. If conditions are very still for several days then high pollution can be generated by pollution emissions from UK sources too.

Racial Unrest

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to act on the analysis in the Sustainable Development Commission Review of last summer's racial unrest in respect of the importance of environmental justice.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 22 January 2002
	The Sustainable Development Commission Review helpfully draws attention to the links between social deprivation and environmental inequality, and it highlights the significant impact this has on ethic minority communities.
	My speech on Environmental Equity given to the Environmental Law Foundation on 21 November 2001 demonstrates how seriously I view these issues, and the work I am doing to generate debate and find answers.
	The issues raised are cross-cutting, from regeneration to justice. They involve many Government Departments and agencies. Examples of our work so far include the Action Plan published last November for addressing the housing needs of black and ethnic minority people. This has 70 specific commitments about such things as, for example, allocations policy. The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has developed Community Support Teams. Each has a pool of people with special skills who can be deployed flexibly and directly. They will be able to support and develop local political leadership to supplement the local authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships. The reports published in December 2001 about last summer's disturbances in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley stressed the need to make community cohesion a central policy objective of all that we do. This must include environmental policy.

Refrigerators

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications there have been for recycling plants for refrigerators and freezers in Buckinghamshire area; and when she expects them to be operational.

Michael Meacher: There have been no planning applications for recycling plants for refrigerators and freezers in the Buckinghamshire area. Neither have there been any applications for waste management licences for such plants.

Foot and Mouth

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to enable (a) farmers and (b) non-farmers to have access to funds available for rural recovery following the foot and mouth crisis.

Alun Michael: As the hon. Member is aware from a previous answer of 29 November 2001, Official Report, column 539W, the Government have been actively raising awareness among affected businesses of the financial aid available to help cope with the impact of foot and mouth disease. The Small Business Service has sent out 3.7 million copies of their leaflet Coping with Foot and Mouth Diseasehelp for business via banks, post offices, trade associations, employer organisations, etc. Business advice fact sheets have been posted on DEFRA's website, http://www.defra.gov.uk/, and we have set up help lines. The regional development agencies have also been actively promoting the Business Recovery Fund.
	England's Rural Future published on 13 December our response to the reports of the Rural Task Force and Lord Haskins along with steps taken to implement the Rural White Paper. We are further promoting increased awareness and penetration of the measures we have put in place.
	The Small Business Service embarked on an ambitious 2.5 million national advertising campaign in autumn 2001 under the title The Unfair Advantage. It is designed to improve awareness of Business Links, and start driving responses from all business sectors to the national contact centre or Business Link website.
	Farmers whose animals have been culled out as a result of foot and mouth disease have been targeted directly for the enhanced (five day) Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS). Publicity for the service has been direct to farms in the form of a personalised mail shot and explanatory leaflet. In addition the Rural Development Service's seminars held locally outlined the components of the service and how farmers can register. Further regional promotion by Business Links is conducted as and when it is necessary.

Aggregates Levy

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the sustainability fund set up as a result of the aggregates levy will be controlled and allocated at a local level.

Michael Meacher: Consultations on how to distribute the aggregates levy sustainability fund in England ended on 27 November. We are currently reflecting on all the issues raised in the consultation, and decisions on the final shape and distribution of the fund are expected to be made soon.

Radioactive Waste

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of international agreements on the disposal of radioactive waste at sea; whether these agreements are being renewed; and if it is her policy that they should be reviewed.

Michael Meacher: The UK is a contracting party to both the OSPAR convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north east Atlantic 1992, and the convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter 1972 (known as the London convention) which applies globally. Both conventions prohibit the disposal at sea of radioactive waste, and we see no need for these provisions to be reviewed. The UK is very active within both conventions in seeking to ensure that environmental protection standards continue to develop in an effective and appropriate way in the light of the latest scientific knowledge.

Radioactive Waste

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements there are for the (a) concealing and protected disposal of radioactive waste for which the UK Government are responsible and (b) retrieval and protected containment of previously disposed of radioactive waste where it has been necessary to retrieve it.

Michael Meacher: There are certainly no arrangements to conceal disposals of radioactive waste for which the UK Government are responsible.
	The arrangements for disposal of radioactive waste in the UK require that all disposals of civil waste are subject to the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, as amended. This Act does not apply to the Ministry of Defence, but its policy is that where practicable it will apply standards at least as stringent as those required by the Act. At present the main UK disposal site is at Drigg in Cumbria; this is authorised to accept only low level waste. The UK environment agencies are the enforcing authorities for the Radioactive Substances Act. The health and safety executive are the enforcing authority for the safety of workers at the Drigg site.
	With regard to arrangements for the retrieval of waste already disposed of on land, the Government have accepted a proposal from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that it retrieve the waste from the Dounreay shaft and process it to a form suitable either for disposal or any other long-term management option which the Government decide on for intermediate-level waste. Such retrieval will be subject to regulation by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.
	The consultation paper Managing radioactive waste safely sets out the Government's proposed decision making programme. The consultation period ends on 12 March and we would welcome comments from people all over the UK.
	The radioactive waste which was dumped at sea by the UK in the past does not give any cause for concern provided it is left undisturbed. Results obtained under the OECD's co-ordinated research and environmental surveillance programme (CRESP) related to sea disposal of radioactive wastes have demonstrated that the radiological impacts on human and oceanic populations emanating from the north east Atlantic dumpsites are exceedingly small compared to the natural background levels, and are likely to remain so. This view was reiterated in the OSPAR convention's quality status report 2000, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Any attempt to retrieve such waste would be both unnecessary and potentially hazardous for the personnel involved.

Radioactive Waste

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which (a) national and (b) international regulations and agreements apply to the disposal of UK originated radioactive waste (i) within mainland Britain, (ii) within territorial waters, (iii) outside territorial waters and (iv) in other countries.

Michael Meacher: Within mainland Britain and territorial waters, the disposal of radioactive waste is subject to the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. The UK is also subject to the provisions of Directive 96/29/Euratom laying down basic safety standards in the European Union for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation.
	The dumping of radioactive waste at sea is prohibited under the OSPAR convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north east Atlantic 1992, and under the convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter 1972 (known as the London convention), as amended in 1994, which applies globally. These conventions apply both within and beyond territorial waters, and the UK is a contracting party to both.
	The UK does not dispose of radioactive waste in other countries. However, it is Government policy that the wastes resulting from the reprocessing of foreign spent fuel are returned to the country of origin.
	Shipments of radioactive waste into, out of, and through the EU are regulated under the 1993 Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste Regulations (TFSRW). They apply to radioactive waste shipments to or from anywhere in the world.

Sewage Treatment

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to clarify the powers which local authorities have to act in respect of smell nuisance from sewage treatment works.

Michael Meacher: Except in the specific circumstances under which sewage works are regulated under the IPPC provisions, local authorities have a duty under section 79(1)(d) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to investigate complaints about smell or odours arising on industrial, trade or business premises and being prejudicial to health or a nuisance. If a local authority's environmental health officer is satisfied that the smell or odour complained about amounts to a statutory nuisance then the local authority must serve an abatement notice on the owner or occupier of the premises. However, in coming to a decision an environmental health officer would need to determine whether best practicable means are being used to prevent the nuisance or counteract its effect. Generally local authorities will try to work closely with the water undertakings to investigate and monitor odour problems from sewage treatment works without having to resort to abatement measures or legal action.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies she has conducted into the implications for wildlife of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 since its enactment; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Countryside and Rights of Way Act was the first major piece of wildlife legislation for 20 years and introduced new rights of access to the open countryside, amended the law in relation to rights of way and improved protection and management of sites of special scientific interest, wildlife and areas of outstanding natural beauty. We believe the Act has significant benefits, both for the wildlife which, through the provisions in Parts III and IV of the Bill, it aims directly to protect and conserve, and for people better to appreciate the wildlife in our countryside.
	The wildlife and access advisory group has collated known research and guidance on the sensitivities of wildlife to access. The group comprises English Nature, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and others. In addition the Access Scientific Research and Monitoring Group, whose members also include EN, the agency and CCW, is advising on a range of project proposals arising from the report Access and bird conservation: priorities for research, produced in 2001.
	No studies about the implications of Part II for wildlife have been carried out or are planned: however the provisions include amendments to the circumstances in which traffic authorities may make traffic regulation orders, so as to include the purpose of protecting SSSIs.
	English Nature is responsible for implementing the new provisions for more effective protection and management of SSSIs. The improvements are likely to take time to take effect. English Nature's regular SSSI condition assessments will show over time how far the new legislation has resulted in improvements to these sites. Further detail on the exercise of the new powers will be provided in English Nature's annual report, to be published later in the year.
	In relation to the wildlife law enforcement provisions in Schedule 12, officials have asked for information, through the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, about the use of the new powers and the imposition of higher penalties for offences under Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. From the responses received it is clear that the powers are being used to good effect and that at least one person has received a prison sentence while others have been given community service orders.

Environmentally Beneficial Land Use

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives are being provided by her Department to farmers and landowners practising environmentally conscious methods of land use on their property; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Funding for farmers and land managers undertaking environmentally beneficial activities is available under the DEFRA agri-environment schemes, Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Organic Farming. Under the England Rural Development Programme, a total of 1 billion is planned to be spent on these schemes between 200006.
	A review of the agri-environment schemes will begin shortly, with a view to reporting in 2003. The review will take forward the recommendation of the Policy Commission on the future development of these schemes.

Water Industry

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the impact of competition in the water industry.

Michael Meacher: Existing possibilities for competition in the water industry have led to significant improvements in the efficiency of statutory undertakers and benefits for customers. Undertakers already contract out a number of their services and activities on a competitive basis. They compete with one another to offer large industrial users water management services and customers using more than 100 mega litres of water per year are also able to take advantage of inset appointments. The regulatory regime also provides for a system of comparative competition which enables the Director General of Water Services to compare the efficiency of statutory undertakers when setting price limits. The Department has been examining the possibilities for extending the scope for competition in the water industry, including consideration of the impact this would have on different customer groups. DEFRA will be publishing a consultation paper, setting out the issues and proposals later this year.

Central Heating (Pensioners)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance is available to pensioners to upgrade inefficient central heating systems; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Where either a pensioner does not have a central heating system of their existing system has broken down they may apply to the Government's Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) for assistance. HEES has been designed to provide packages of insulation and heating measures up to 2,000, dependent upon the needs of the householders and property type. Its annual budget is 150 million.
	Further assistance is provided through the reduction of VAT on domestic fuel to 5 per cent. and the increase to winter fuel payments for pensioner households to 200. The latter is expected to be worth 1.7 billion per annum and provides assistance to 11.5 million people.

Combined Heat and Power

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the time scale for stage 2 of the feasibility assessments for combined heat and power under the terms of climate change agreements.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 1 February 2002
	Climate change agreements set eligible operators challenging targets to reduce their energy use in return for an 80 per cent. reduction in the level of climate change levy on that energy use. A move to use more energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) installations is one way in which operators can meet their targets. The targets for most facilities have taken into account any contribution that CHP installations can make. However, in some sectors not enough was known about the technical and economic feasibility of combined heat and power in their processes. In these cases the agreements provided for an assessment of the feasibility over the first 18 months of the agreements, with a view to revising targets for those installations in which CHP could make a significant, cost effective contribution, by the third milestone ie 2007.
	The first stage in the assessment was completed in November 2001 and the second was due to be completed by 4 January. However, current conditions in the energy markets have not helped the economic case for CHP and there have also been delays in obtaining data with which to set the tests. Consequently, stage 2 has been deferred. This will also allow the procedure's design to take account of developments resulting from the Government's draft CHP Strategy and DTI's consultation on the Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators, both of which will be published shortly.
	A decision on the revised timetable for the assessment will be made over the coming months but it will not delay the re-negotiation of targets for the third milestone as originally intended.

Sellafield

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Department of Environment in Northern Ireland was not consulted prior to the decision to commission the mixed oxide plant at Sellafield; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I decided on 3 October 2001 that mixed oxide (MOX) manufacture is justified under the basic safety standards directive. We alone were responsible for taking the decision and others could only offer advice. We and the Environment Agency conducted five public consultation exercises before we made the decision.
	The Health and Safety Executive gave its consent on 19 December 2001 to the plutonium commissioning of the Sellafield MOX Plant. Its consent was required under the terms of British Nuclear Fuels' nuclear site licence, before the plant could operate.
	Health and Safety issues were fully considered in the decision published on 3 October, and the Executive was under no obligation to consult before reaching its own decision.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of EU proposals to introduce a traceability system that ensure all GMOs can be identified through the food chain.

Michael Meacher: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I represented the UK at the Environment Council held in Luxembourg on 29 October. This was the first Environment Council of the Belgian presidency. Council reached political agreement on four common positions: the UK voted in favour of each. Four sets of Council conclusions were agreed. There were two orientation debates: one, in public, on a proposed regulation concerning traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived from them, and a second on the Commission's review of the Pesticides Authorisation Directive (91/414/EEC).
	Political agreement was reached without discussion on a recommendation concerning implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe. This aims to encourage member states to carry out a stocktake of institutions and laws affecting their coastal zones, and to adopt national strategies to promote integrated management.
	In reaching political agreement on a proposed amendment to Directive 97/68/EC on non-road mobile machinery emissions, the UK achieved its objective of ensuring deletion of an article permitting the use of economic incentives, noting that the directive did not have an appropriate legal base for such an article. The amended directive will introduce exhaust emission standards for small, off-road petrol engines and large diesel generators, and aims to align European provisions with existing US regulations.
	Political agreement was also reached on an amendment to Directive 94/25/EC laying down limit values for exhaust and noise emissions from new recreational craft placed on the Community market. The Council agreed limit values at the levels proposed by the European Commission in COM(2000)639 dated 12 October 2000. Particularly in relation to noise emissions, agreement was reached on less costly methods of demonstrating compliance. Overall the agreement represents a reasonable balance between achieving challenging environmental objectives while minimising the cost to small and medium-sized business and individuals.
	Council reached political agreement on a proposed decision continuing for the period 200206 an annual funding programme for environmental NGOs active at a European level. The Commission's proposed total budget of euro 32 million was agreed. The UK's main objective of ensuring that the selection and monitoring process was transparent and fair was met in the common position text.
	Ministers agreed a common approach on a proposed directive to bring Community rules into line with the second pillar of the Aarhus Convention dealing with public consultation in environmental decision-making. The UK welcomed the proposal and asked that the Commission also take steps to present another proposal seeking to apply the provisions of the Aarhus convention to the Community institutions, in order to enable the Community to ratify the convention.
	During a public orientation debate on a proposed regulation on traceability and labelling of GMOs, Council discussed the scope of the proposed system. While welcoming the intention of the proposal to improve safety and consumer choice in GM food and crops, the UK's current judgment was that the requirement to label and trace the source of products which contain no detectable GM material would be unworkable. The UK expressed concern about whether the information given to consumers would be reliable and whether developing countries would be able to provide the information expected from importers. The UK took the view that the Commission's proposals for allowing certain imports of crops containing GMOs that are not approved in the EU were unsatisfactory as they stood and that further urgent work was needed, particularly on agreeing an international system for identifying individual GMOs. Member states were still divided on when the EU decision-making process for GM products could be restarted. While recognising the importance of the proposal to rebuilding confidence in the decision-making process on GMOs in the EU, the UK called for case-by-case consideration of applications and said that it was not tenable to encourage an illicit moratorium.
	Council conclusions adopted in preparation for the seventh Conference of the Parties (COP7) to the UN framework convention on climate change, taking place in Marrakech from 29 October to 9 November, called on all parties to respect the Bonn agreement, and underlined the need for progress in the relevant international fora in tackling emissions from aviation and shipping. The conclusions stressed the resolve of the Community and its member states to ratify the Kyoto protocol in a timely manner, with a view to its entry into force by the World summit on sustainable development next September. Environment Commissioner Wallstrom also presented a proposal to ratify the Kyoto protocol, a draft directive on a CO2 emissions trading scheme and a communication on the European climate change programme.
	Council Conclusions were adopted on a Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Programme stressing the priority attached to the problems of ozone, particulates and acidification. Council also adopted Conclusions on a Communication on Conservation of Natural Resources, and Conclusions on the Commission's general Communication on Biodiversity, highlighting the need to implement biodiversity action plans and halt biodiversity decline across the EU.
	Council held a discussion to inform the adoption of six sustainable development indicators to be used in the Commission's synthesis report for the Barcelona spring European Council. The Commission would publish its report on indicators on 31 October. An exchange of views was also held on the Commission's review of Directive 91/414/EEC on agricultural pesticides. The UK stressed the need to speed up the pace of the review of older compounds. The debate also considered the substitution principle and restrictions on those allowed to use certain categories of pesticides.
	The Belgian presidency and Commission reported on a number of proposals, including the EU Chemicals Strategy, environmental liability and a recently adopted Communication on dioxins, furans and PCBs. France briefly outlined measures taken by the French Government since a major explosion at an ammonium nitrate manufacturing plant in Toulouse in September. The inquiry into this accident will inform the planned revision of the Seveso II directive, but the Commission will not delay adoption of its proposal.
	Over lunch Ministers discussed preparations for the WTO Ministerial in Doha on 913 November, and preparations for the World summit on sustainable development (Rio+10) to be held in Johannesburg in September 2002.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many GM crop sites there are in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on GM crops.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 18 December 2001
	There were 161 sites in the UK where GM crop plants were grown in 2001. Of these, 108 were in respect of the Farm Scale Evaluations, 16 were for National List trials and 37 were in respect of other research trials The Government will not approve GM crop releases unless it is clear there is no significant risk to human health or the environment.

Insulation Grants

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many insulation grants have been made in each of the last 10 years.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The original Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) started in 1991 and ran until May 2000. HEES was available in Great Britain and provided a single main insulation measure up to the value of 315.
	New HEES was launched on 1 June 2000 and is now marketed as the Warm Front Team. The scheme has been designed to provide packages of insulation and heating measures up to 2,000 to private sector householders in England, dependent upon their needs and property type. The annual budget is 150 million. HEES is expected by 2004, to have provided assistance to 800,000 fuel poor householders i.e. those who spend 10 per cent. or more of their income to stay warm.
	Fuel Poverty is a devolved area of responsibility. Scotland launched its scheme in July 1999 and Wales followed in November 2000. Northern Ireland runs its own scheme.
	The table provides the information requested:
	
		
			  Financial year Number of insulation grants made in Great Britain 
		
		
			 199192 167,000 
			 199293 204,000 
			 199394 270,000 
			 199495 450,000 
			 199596 624,000 
			 199697 415,000 
			 199798 416,000 
			 199899 419,000 
			 19992000 (28)405,000 
			 200001 (29)85,000 
			 200102 (30)171,000 
		
	
	(28) Data relate to the whole of Great Britain up to July 1999 when Scotland launched its own scheme.
	(29) Data relate to England and Wales up to November 2000 when Wales launched its own scheme.
	(30) Data relate to the period April 2001 to December 2001

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State dated 3 December 2001;
	(2)  when the hon. Member for West Worcestershire will receive an answer to his question tabled on 15 January (ref. 28512).

Elliot Morley: A response to the hon. Member's letter of 3 December 2001 was sent on 26 January 2002.

Wye Navigation Order

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in regard to the Wye navigation order.

Michael Meacher: The application made by the Environment Agency for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 to confer on it powers to regulate navigation on the River Wye has raised complicated legal and policy issues which require very careful consideration. We are considering the inspector's report, together with the comments of those appearing at the inquiry on the detailed post inquiry representations which we received.
	We will make a decision on the application as soon as possible. Before doing so, we will consult the National Assembly for Wales since the proposed order would, if made, affect Wales as well as England.

Noise Nuisance

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to achieve the community noise level of 60dBa for an outside noise event.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The figure of 60dBA is the World Health Organisation's recommended guideline limit for night time noise events. Noisiness of equipment is regulated variously at UK and/or international level depending on the type of source. New noisy and noise-sensitive development is potentially subject to planning controls, and local authorities must have regard to PPG 24 (Planning and Noise) when formulating and applying their development plans. Noise from dwellings may be addressed by local authorities. Noise from aircraft taking off or landing is subject to airport-based noise controls, and in the case of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports is regulated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions under s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Unemployment

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are unemployed in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 4 January 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in Greater London. I am replying in his absence. (32125)
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of unemployment in the Greater London region, based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition of unemployment. The most recently available figuresfor autumn (September to November) 2001show that the number of unemployed people in Greater London was 269,000, with an unemployment rate of 7.2 per cent. These estimates are not seasonally adjusted.

Fraud and Error

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the proportion of claims for the children's premium in income support and jobseeker's allowance which have been (a) fraudulent and (b) incorrect.

Ian McCartney: There is not a 'children's premium' in income support or jobseeker's allowance. People claiming either benefit may claim for dependent members of their household. The latest information on the levels of fraud and error is in The Results of the Area Benefit Review and Quality Support Team from April 1999 to March 2000: Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, a copy of which is available in the Library. However, it is not possible to disaggregate the number of cases in which fraud and error are attributable solely to incorrect claims for dependent children.

Fraud and Error

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the expected saving in 200102 from the security and control programme.

Malcolm Wicks: The security and control programme has been replaced by our comprehensive strategy to reduce fraud and error. This strategy is set out in our paper: A New Contract for Welfare: Safeguarding Social Security (Cm 4276; March 1999). We are tightening up the system to make sure that the right amount goes to the right person from the outset of a claim.
	We have set firm targets to reduce the amount of fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance by 25 per cent. by 2004 and 50 per cent. by 2006. Latest results show that from our baseline period in 1998 to March 2001 we have achieved an 18 per cent. reduction and we expect this good progress to continue.

MSPs

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been raised with his Department by Members of the Scottish Parliament since 1 July 1999.

Maria Eagle: Around 900 letters from Members of the Scottish Parliament have been sent directly to this Department and the former Department of Social Security since 1 July 1999.

New Deal (Wales)

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those who have entered work through the new deal programme have commenced unsubsidised employment in (a) Wales and (b) the Cynon Valley.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Number of people helped into jobs in Wales(31)  
			 Programme  All jobs Unsubsidised jobs 
		
		
			 New deal for young people 23,218 21,078 
			 New deal 25 plus (32)4,432 (32)2,981 
			 New deal 50 plus (employment credit claims) 4,041 4,041 
			 New deal for lone parents 8,006 8,006 
			 New deal for disabled people (33)269 269 
			 New deal for partners (34)110 110 
		
	
	(31) Up to the end of October 2001, unless otherwise stated.
	(32) Figures relate to pre-April 2001 programme.
	(33) From 2 July 2001 to 30 November 2001. From 1998 to June 2001 the new deal for disabled people pilots helped 8,200 people into unsubsidised jobs in 12 pilot areas. As this was not a national programme, figures cannot be broken down for Wales, Scotland or England, or constituencies.
	(34) At 30 November 2001.
	Sources:
	New Deal Evaluation Database
	New Deal for Disabled People Management Information
	
		
			   Number of people helped into jobs in Cynon Valley(35)  
			 Programme  All jobs Unsubsidised jobs 
		
		
			 New deal for young people 748 673 
			 New deal 25 plus (36)41 (36)34 
			 New deal 50 plus (employment credit claims) 89 89 
			 New deal for lone parents 144 144 
		
	
	(35) Up to the end of October 2001, unless otherwise stated.
	(36) Figures relate to pre-April 2001 programme.
	Sources:
	Employment Service Labour Market System
	New Deal Evaluation Database
	By definition, all jobs gained through the new deals for lone parents, 50 plus, disabled people and partners are unsubsidised. Constituency level information is not available for the new deals for disabled people and partners.

Departmental Accounts

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in which years since 1972 his Department and its predecessors have had accounts qualified by the Comptroller and Auditor General due to irregular expenditure; and if he will specify the irregular expenditure involved in each case.

Nick Brown: holding answer 15 January 2002
	Details of the accounts for the Department for Work and Pensions and its predecessors which have been qualified by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the basis of irregular expenditure since 199091 are shown in the table which has been placed in the Library.
	The Departmental Resource Account for 19992000 was also qualified, on the same basis as the Class XII Vote 1 and the National Insurance Fund Accounts.

Care Homes (Expense Allowances)

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to increase the expense allowance for pensioners living in old people's homes.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	Decisions on the level of the personal expenses allowance for people in residential care to apply from April 2002 will be announced shortly.

Care Homes (Expense Allowances)

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the number of pensioners in the Loughborough constituency living in old people's homes on with an expense allowance of less than 16.05 per week.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	We have not commissioned research into the number of pensioners in the Loughborough constituency living in old people's homes on a personal expense allowance of less than 16.05 per week. Under the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide, all care home residents who are financially supported by the local council are left with a personal expenses allowance of at least 16.05 per week.

Care Homes (Expense Allowances)

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has given to local authorities on the provision of expense allowances to pensioners living in care.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	Guidance on the personal expenses allowance is issued to councils in the charges for residential accommodation guide. The Department is in the process of updating this guidance.

Jobcentre Plus

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incidents of (a) physical and (b) verbal assault have been recorded in Jobcentre Plus offices since their introduction.

Nick Brown: Since the introduction of the Jobcentre Plus pathfinders over half a million people have passed through the new offices. During that period there has been only one report of an incident involving physical contact. There have been 102 other reported incidents, the majority involving verbal abuse, or, in three cases, damage to office equipment.

Social Fund Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the budget for the social fund Inspectorate was in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much was claimed from the social fund in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many claimants sought review of their social fund provision in each of the last 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the social fund Inspectorate/Independent Review Service administration budget is available from 199495 onwards in the departmental reports of the former Department of Social Security. Information on this budget prior to 199495 was not collected separately. Information on social fund expenditure and social fund reviews from 199192 onwards is in the social fund annual reports.
	Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of persons aged 18 to 24 years who are (a) unemployed, (b) unemployed for more than six months, (c) unemployed for more than 12 months and (d) unemployed for more than two years found sustained unsubsidised jobs in each quarter since 1991.

Nick Brown: Information is not available in the format requested. However, research evidence 1 suggests that of those who leave jobseeker's allowance for work, around three quarters do not return within the next three months.
	1 Source:
	JUVOS Cohort Survey

Employment

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are to establish a job transition service in the Cynon Valley.

Nick Brown: The Job Transition Service began operating in April 2001. Since 28 November 2001 its work has continued under the new name of the Rapid Response Service (RRS).
	The aim of the RRS is to support those affected by redundancy to make the transition into sustainable new jobs. The RRS responds to redundancies that have a significant impact on the local labour market. Each redundancy is different, and the exact nature of the help will be tailored to the needs of individuals, the local economy and the labour market concerned.
	A dedicated RRS Senior Manager has been appointed in Wales, Scotland and each region of England. Some elements of the service are already in place while others are still being piloted. The RRS is on track to be launched in full in April 2002, with an additional 6 million being allocated to this work over the next 2 years.
	The RRS has already provided specific assistance to people in the Cynon Valley affected by redundancies at Hitachi. Through an on-site jobshop employees were offered support to help find alternative employment and training opportunities. As a result of this support, to date over 60 people have been offered employment.

Press Officers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers there were in his Department in each of the last four years; and what was the annual cost of their remuneration over that period.

Nick Brown: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in May 2001. This involved the amalgamation of parts of the Department for Education and Employment (including the Employment Service) with the Department of Social Security.
	The current level of full time press officers employed within the new Department for Work and Pensions is 18.
	The overall costs of press officers for the last four years have formed part of the budgets relating to the Departments that predated the formation of the Department for Work and Pensions. As such, it would be at disproportionate cost to retrieve precise figures for the remuneration of these staff.

Benefit Take-up

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action has been taken by each local authority in each of the last three years to increase benefit take-up; and how much each campaign has cost.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Minimum Wage

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employers, having advertised vacancies with the Employment Service, have subsequently been found to have breached the minimum wage legislation.

Nick Brown: The information requested is not available.
	The Employment Services takes in excess of 200,000 vacancies a month and all of these must meet the requirements of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. If we receive a complaint about an employer who advertised with the Employment Service but is subsequently found not to be meeting the requirements of the minimum wage legislation, we direct the complainant to the Minimum Wage Enforcement Agency to investigate the case. The Employment Service also suspends its services to that employer until investigations are completed.

Muslim Women

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 2001, Official Report, column 1045W, on Muslim women, what research he has commissioned on the participation of Muslim women in the labour market.

Nick Brown: Previous research in the Department has been concerned with labour market participation by ethnic group rather than religion. However, the Department is currently giving consideration to funding a qualitative research study in 2002 featuring the labour market experiences of Muslim women as part of a wider study of all ethnic groups.

Parliamentary Questions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he is putting in place to meet targets for the answering of written parliamentary questions.

Maria Eagle: In the Department for Work and pensions during the period from October to December 2001 we dealt with 1,392 questions, which is around double the number for similar periods in recent years. We have allocated on a temporary basis additional resources to process the higher level of questions and we are monitoring the situation very closely to see whether the trend continues. Parliamentary questions are not the only way of getting information from the Department. Some information sought by hon. and right hon. Members is available in departmental publications which can be found in the Library.

Child Support

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the Child Support Agency costings required by his Department's Euro Programme.

Malcolm Wicks: Should the UK decide to enter the single currency, costs to the DWP will depend on the approach taken. Details of progress on DWP's euro preparations work were included in the Fifth Report on Euro Preparations, published in November 2001. The report is available in the Library.

Child Support

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the timetable for implementation of the new Child Support Agency maintenance laws; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Changes to the child support scheme will take effect for new cases from April 2002. Existing cases will be transferred when the new scheme is working well, we expect this to be about a year later.

Child Support

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional resources have been allocated to the Independent Case Examiner in anticipation of the child support reforms.

Malcolm Wicks: Plans are being developed to deal with any anticipated potential increase in the work load of the Independent Case Examiner arising from the introduction of the new child support scheme. Appropriate levels of resource will be determined as part of the planning process.

Child Support

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff have worked for the Independent Case Examiner Service in each year since its creation.

Malcolm Wicks: Details of the number of staff working for the Independent Case Examiner's Office, in each year since the establishment of the office (in April 1997), are in the table.
	
		
			  Staff employed 
		
		
			 199798 41 
			 199899 38 
			 19992000 46 
			 200001 60 
			 200102 (37)72 
			 200102 (38)80 
		
	
	(37) Figures as at 25 January 2002
	(38) Projected to 31 March 2002

Child Support

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the budget of the Independent Case Examiner has been in each year since its creation.

Malcolm Wicks: Details of the actual costs of funding the Independent Case Examiner's office, in each year since its creation (in April 1997) are in the table:
	
		
			  Annual budget 
		
		
			 199798 1,025,675 
			 199899 920,960 
			 19992000 1,040,811 
			 200001 1,176,087 
			 200102 (39)1,619,945 
		
	
	(39) Projected expenditure to 31 March 2002

Parental Leave (Income Support)

Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parties have claimed income support during parental leave in each year since its introduction.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

WAN Service

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 302W, on benefit fraud, if he will state the exact contract price of the new WAN service and its predecessor.

Malcolm Wicks: The contract for the new WAN service was let to the BT led ACCORD Consortium ARCWAY through open competition. The contract price for the WAN is therefore commercially confidential.
	The contract price of the new WAN service is broadly comparable to that of the old one and is at the lower price end of industry benchmarks for this type of service.
	The Department will receive a significantly improved service in the areas of service flexibility, performance, management information and security, and so position the Department to further modernise its IT in the future.

Departmental Spending

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 899W, on the 2001 departmental report, how much and what proportion of the departmental unallocated provision has been used to meet unexpected funding.

Nick Brown: None to date.

Departmental Payments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the instances in which his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 200001.

Ian McCartney: The Department aims to pay all invoices within 30 days of receipt where no other contract exists. During 200001 in the former Department of Social Security of the 228,186 invoices paid there were 12,772 invoices not paid according to the prescribed timescalesthis means 94.4 per cent. were within target. Details for departmental agencies and bodies are listed below.
	
		
			  Invoices paid Invoices paid within target Percentage of invoices paid within target Invoices paid outside target Percentage of invoices paid outside target 
		
		
			 Benefits Agency 151,609 144,104 95.05 7,505 4.95 
			 Child Support Agency 22,869 20,863 91.23 2,006 8.77 
			 Headquarters 38,919 36,142 92.86 2,777 7.14 
			 Independent Statutory Bodies 539 533 98.89 6 1.11 
			 War Pensions Agency 3,612 3,581 99.14 31 0.86 
			 Appeals Service 10,638 10,191 95.80 447 4.20 
			  
			 Total 228,186 215,414 94.40 12,772 5.60

Hospital Stays (Benefit Downrating)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many NHS patients were subject to hospital downrating of benefits in the last three years; what were the average delays in days between (a) their discharge from hospital and (b) their formal claim for restoration of benefit, and the first payment of such benefits; and what was the average delay from (i) discharge and (ii) claim to restoration of benefit for those experiencing the top decile of such delays.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested.

Fuel Direct Scheme

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has (a) allocated and (b) spent on the fuel direct scheme in each of the last four years; how many people have benefited in each year; and how the scheme is promoted.

Malcolm Wicks: Tackling fuel poverty is one of this Government's key priorities. A number of measures have been put in place to ensure that by 2010, no vulnerable household will have to struggle to heat their home when it is cold. These measures include the 200 winter fuel payment for households that qualify, cold weather payments, a cut in the level of VAT on fuel and radical improvements to the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.
	The fuel direct scheme provides valuable, last-resort protection against the threat of disconnection for people in receipt of income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance who are in arrears with their utility bills. Fuel companies generally make customers who have fallen into arrears aware of the scheme.
	Information on the value of deductions from benefit under the fuel direct scheme is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Information on the numbers of people benefiting from the scheme is in the table.
	
		Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance recipients with deductions for fuel direct, Great Britain, 199798 to 200001
		
			 Year Number of people 
		
		
			 199798 147,500 
			 199899 103,500 
			 19992000 75,000 
			 200001 61,400 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of all Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance recipients and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2. The figures are an average, using quarterly data for each of the last 4 years, of the number of people with deductions.
	Source:
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 to February 2001.
	Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 to February 2001

State Pension

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the basis for the statement by Baroness Hollis on 24 January 2002, Official Report, House of Lords, column 1642, regarding the proportion of men and women who receive the full basic state pension.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend, Baroness Hollis of Heigham, in the other place on 28 January 2002, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA14.

Winter Fuel Payments

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to restrict the winter fuel allowance to those of pensionable age; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: There are currently no plans to make such a change to the winter fuel payment scheme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

European Aid

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on amendments to the nature and direction of the EU overseas aid package.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for International Development and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have regular discussions with EU counterparts on the nature and direction of the EU's external assistance.
	The General Affairs Council will discuss the effectiveness of the EU's external action's including financial assistance, on 18 February. The Development Council on 8 November 2001, attended by the Secretary of State for International Development recommended that further work be done by the Permanent Representatives Committee to ensure that the views of Development Ministers are fed into the General Affairs Council discussion on external actions in February.

Detainees

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what report he has received on the numbers and conditions of detention of UK citizens held by the United States (a) at the Guantanamo base in Cuba and (b) elsewhere.

Ben Bradshaw: British officials visited Guantanamo Bay from 1720 January and saw three British detainees. None of the detainees complained of any ill treatment.
	We continue to investigate reports of individuals detained in Afghanistan who might be British. We are currently aware of two such individuals detained in Kandahar by the US authorities.

Detainees

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the International Committee of the Red Cross and other NGOs on the treatment of prisoners held by the United States at the Guantanamo base and elsewhere.

Ben Bradshaw: None. It is standard practice for the International Committee of the Red Cross to report confidentially to the detaining power only. The ICRC have established a presence at Guantanamo Bay and their officials have access to the detainees at any time. They also have access to detainees held by the US authorities in Afghanistan.

Detainees

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the United States Government concerning the treatment of prisoners captured in the conflict in Afghanistan.

Ben Bradshaw: The US authorities have said that the detainees held by the US are being treated humanely and consistently with the principles of the Geneva conventions.

Diego Garcia

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason US television networks were not permitted to film a recent forces show at the US base on Diego Garcia.

Ben Bradshaw: By treaty agreement with the US, access to Diego Garcia is restricted. Conditional permission was given for a television network to cover a US forces show planned for Diego Garcia, but the television network decided in the end not to go ahead with the event.

European Union

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the areas of the European Union's institutions' exclusive competence in the European Union.

Peter Hain: holding answer 24 January 2002
	The Government accept that in certain fields, such as the common commercial policy and fisheries conservation, exclusive Community competence is essential and beneficial for all EU member states.
	The issue of competences will be discussed at the convention on the future of Europe, beginning on 28 February, under the heading of A better division and delimitation of competences in the European Union.

European Union

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the areas of member states' exclusive competence in the European Union.

Peter Hain: holding answer 24 January 2002
	Unlike the member states, the European Communities have no inherent competence; they only have such competence as is accorded to them by the Community treaties. Accordingly, the competence of the member states is limited only to the extent that the communities have competence in accordance with the treaties.

Overseas Posts (Publications)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what publications are produced by (a) the British Embassy, (b) British consulates and (c) British Council offices in (i) Poland, (ii) Estonia, (iii) Latvia and (iv) Lithuania; and in what languages they are produced.

Peter Hain: There are no British consulates in any of the three Baltic states. The British consulates in Katowice, Poznan, Gdansk, Szczecin, Wroclaw and Kradov do not have any publications.
	Publications for embassies are as follows:
	Poland
	UK21 (British Embassy magazine) in Polish.
	Leaflet on travelling to the UK in Polish.
	Action Local Government in Polish.
	Estonia
	Embassy brochure (English).
	Book on UK's role in Estonia's fight for independent (English and Estonian).
	Latvia
	No publications on a regular basis.
	Material for last May's British Week (programmes/flyers)Latvian/Russian.
	Lithuania
	Britain's view on the advantages of European Union membership for Lithuania (Lithuanian).
	Farm diversification book (Lithuanian).
	Organic food production and marketing (Lithuanian/English).
	European fund and experience-A chance to every region (Russian).
	Studying in the EU and acknowledgement of diplomas (Russian).
	There are further documents published both on the websites of individual posts. The addresses arePoland: www.britishembassy.pl; Latvia: www.britain.lv; Lithuania: www.britain.lt; Estonia: www.britishembassy.ee.
	Publications by the British Council are as follows:
	Poland
	British Council monthly events calendar (English, Polish); Publicity and promotional leaflets and catalogues for various events (English, Polish); English language resource centre materials (English, Polish); English teaching centre brochures (English, Polish); various competitions and programmes (English, Polish); governance and society programmes and projects (English); Examinations promotional and information materials (English, Polish); British Council Poland website (www.britishcouncil.pl) (English, Polish is planned); European year of languageswww.ey12001.pl (English); British studies project website http://elt.britcoun.org.pl (English); Literature project Poland organisationstranslations of British poets (Polish); various bilingual pamphlets (English, Polish); First translations of author/text into PolishRoll Call: essays on twentieth century English fiction (Polish); In the belly of the whale: essays on modern British poetry (Polish), Don Paterson and Ciaran Carson-poetry and music (CDEnglish); Four author presentation (CDEnglish).
	Estonia
	Quarterly information leaflets about events and projects run by the British Council are published in English. Media briefings about British Council events and occasionally longer articles for magazines and newspapers are published either in Estonian or Russian depending on the language of the publication. The www.britishcouncil.ee website is in English but its main content will be bilingual (English and Estonian) later in 2002.
	Latvia
	A quarterly British Council news and events listing, in poster format is published in English. The www.britishcouncil.lv web site is in English but will be bilingual (English/Latvian) by the end of 2002. Promotional leaflets about the British Council are produced in English and Latvian. The quarterly English language teaching newsletter (for teachers) is published in English.
	Lithuania
	British Council Vilnius Newsa quarterly newsletter about Council activities is a bilingual (English/Lithuanian) publication. Promotional leaflets about British Council services are bilingual. The www.britishcouncil.lt website is currently in English only, but will be bilingual from April 2002.

KPMG

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contracts his Department has with KPMG; and what the value is of each one.

Denis MacShane: The FCO has two contracts with KPMG. The first relates to new financial management and human resource systems for which the value to date is 4.04 million with an additional 1.48 million forecast for 200203. The second relates to the implementation of an information communications technology strategy for which the value to date is 1.9 million with a further 200,000 forecast for 200203.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit (a) China, (b) Taiwan and (c) South Korea.

Jack Straw: I hope to visit China later this year. I have no plans to visit Taiwan. Other visits to the region remain under review.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit (a) Singapore, (b) Malaysia and (c) Indonesia.

Jack Straw: I have no firm plans to visit these countries.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Gulf states.

Jack Straw: I have no current firm plans for a substantive visit to the Gulf states.

Ministerial Visits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit Poland.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited Poland in october 2001. I intend to visit in the next two months.

Gibraltar

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: At the Brussels process ministerial meeting today the Secretary of State and Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Pique, continued to make good progress in our discussions about Gibraltar in the atmosphere of friendship and understanding which links the UK and Spain, reaffirming the full range of commitments that we assumed at our previous meetings in London and Barcelona.
	Our common aim remains to conclude a comprehensive agreement before the summer, covering all outstanding issues, including co-operation and sovereignty.
	Both Governments confirmed that their shared objective is to overcome their differences over Gibraltar and to ensure a secure future for Gibraltar in which Gibraltar can preserve its way of life and traditions, enjoy greater internal self-government, sustain and enhance its prosperity, and reap the full benefits of a harmonious and mutually beneficial co-operation in all fields together with the wider region.
	We reiterate our invitation to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to attend future Brussels process meetings so that he, and through him the Gibraltarians, can join the current dialogue and contribute to it to the benefit of Gibraltar. We confirmed that the Chief Minister is warmly invited to participate on the basis of the two flags, three voices formula, having his own and distinct voice as part of the British delegation.
	Our intention is that the comprehensive agreement we seek will offer the best framework for a secure, stable and prosperous future for Gibraltar. In that framework, our objective is that Gibraltar can enjoy enhanced powers of internal self-government allowing its Government and population to have a greater say in their lives. We will invite the Government of Gibraltar to develop together with us the relevant ideas on this objective.
	We also took forward our work on all possible ways of enhancing co-operation to improve the quality of the daily lives of people in Gibraltar and the Campo region. The UK and Spain reaffirmed that the aim of the arrangements they seek is to promote the highest level of fruitful co-operation within the wider region, favouring better standards of living and working conditions in Gibraltar and the Campo, and fluid communications with the region.
	The Spanish Government recalled the arrangements it had made to allocate a further 70,000 telephone numbers for Gibraltar and reaffirmed that, as regards the technical responsibilities of the Spanish side, they are operational. It expressed its commitment to ensure that no obstacles prevent their immediate use for the benefit of all Gibraltarians. To that end, the UK and Spain agreed to engage in immediate talks to assess the situation and attain their objective. Both Governments also tackled the issue of pensions, a problem on which they will intensify their efforts to find a prompt solution consistent with the responsibilities of the public authorities involved.

Afghanistan

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the interim Afghanistan Government in implementing democratic reforms.

Ben Bradshaw: Since its inauguration on 22 December, the Interim Administration has made good progress in implementing the Bonn agreement. The Interim Administration represents the major ethnic groups in Afghanistan and includes Afghanistan's first Minister for Women's Affairs.
	On 25 January Hamid Karzai, Chair of the interim Administration, announced the appointment of the 21 members of the Special Commission for the convening of the Emergency Loya Jirga (the traditional Afghan Grand Council). The commission has the task of organising a Loya Jirga to take place in June. The Loya Jirga will then appoint a transitional Government to hold office until elections are held for a fully representative Government in 2002.

Afghanistan

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes there have been to United Nations sanctions against Afghanistan.

Denis MacShane: With the full support of Her Majesty's Government, on 16 January the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 1390 (2002). Taking into account the changing situation in Afghanistan, the resolution extended or amended some of the existing measures and introduced new measures targeting Usama bin Laden, members of the al-Qaeda organisation and the Taliban and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them designated by the UN Sanctions Committee on Afghanistan. Other UNSC sanctions targeting Afghanistan were terminated or allowed to lapse.
	UNSC resolution 1390 (2002) continues the asset freeze imposed by resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1333 (2000) on senior members of the Taliban, Usama bin Laden and individuals and entities (including members of al-Qaeda) designated by the Security Council as associated with him, and extends it to all designated members of the Taliban and their associates. The resolution also places an embargo on the supply of arms and military assistance to, and imposes a world-wide travel ban on, Usama bin Laden and persons designated by the Security Council as members of the al-Qaeda organisation or the Taliban or their associates.
	A full list of those designated by the UN Sanctions Committee on Afghanistan is available on the UN website: http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/Afghanistan/ Afg_list_eng.htm.
	On 15 January the UNSC had adopted resolution 1388 (2002) removing all previous UNSC restrictions on Ariana Afghan Airlines.

UK-Japan 21st Century Group

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement with the UK-Japan 21st century group.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office supports the work of the UK-Japan 21st century group. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and, where possible, Ministers have attended the annual conference of the group since it was founded (as the UK-Japan 2000 Group) in 1984.

UK-Japan 21st Century Group

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he will have at the February conference of the UK-Japan 21st century group.

Denis MacShane: The Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will host a reception for the group. I shall attend the conference, together with officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Echelon Interception System

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Parliament report of the Temporary Committee on the Echelon interception system.

Jack Straw: In January 2001, as Home Secretary, I briefed a delegation from the European Parliament Temporary Committee on the legislation underpinning the work of the UK's intelligence agencies, most notably the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000. The report seeks to address a difficult subject, but does not fully reflect the safeguards in place in the UK under RIPA, which ensure compliance with the European convention on human rights.

Computer Hacking

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in 2001 attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to computers in his Department by hacking; and of those how many were successful.

Denis MacShane: In 2001 there were three occasions when unauthorised access to FCO systems was identified. On the first occasion successful access was gained to the FCO's website, and the internet service provider has subsequently put stronger firewalls in place. The second and third occasions both involved access to FCO computer systems through weaknesses which have now been resolved. In common with other Departments, no facility exists to alert FCO to unsuccessful attempts to gain unauthorised access.

British Expatriates (Spain)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 36W, on British expatriates in Spain, what figures are held by the (a) Foreign Office and (b) the British Embassy in Spain, as to the number of UK nationals living permanently in Spain.

Peter Hain: (a) None.
	(b) For consular purposes, British nationals in Spain, whether visiting or permanently resident, may register their presence with the British embassy in Madrid, or the nearest British consulate. However, as registration is not compulsory, and few citizens choose to register, any figures derived from these registers would not be authoritative. Official Spanish figures therefore provide the best guide as to the number of British nationals resident in Spain.

Syria

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent allegations made by Britain in the United Nations Sanctions Committee that Syria has violated UN sanctions on Iraqi oil.

Ben Bradshaw: Regular media and oil industry reports have shown that in 2001 Syria suddenly began exporting an average of over 100,000 barrels of oil per day more than the previous year, without increasing its own domestic production. These reports have consistently attributed this to Syria's illegal import of large quantities of Iraqi oil through the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline connecting the two countries. 100,000 barrels per day is a significant amount of oil, worth at current prices about $260 million of humanitarian funding every six months. This is more than Iraq plans to spend on medicine or education under the current six-month phase of the humanitarian programme. The export of Iraqi oil, without seeking UN approval, would be a serious breach of UN resolutions 661 and 986. We have therefore sought Syrian assurances in the UN Sanctions Committee that they will make transparent the operation of this pipeline, bring it within the UN system and allow the revenue raised from it to benefit the Iraqi people rather than the Baghdad regime.

Kenya

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Kenyan Government about the imposition of import duties on goods being sent from the United Kingdom to aid street children; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Our High Commission in Nairobi has raised this issue with the Kenyan authorities. They are at this stage unwilling to grant an exemption for goods for charitable purposes. We will continue to raise the issue.

Golden Jubilee

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the golden jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the golden jubilee.

Jack Straw: It is still too early yet to be certain of what national events I, or other FCO Ministers, will be attending. I expect, however, to attend the national service of thanksgiving at St. Paul's cathedral on 4 June.
	I will also be attending my county service of thanksgiving in Blackburn cathedral on Sunday 2 June.
	The Under Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), plans to be in his Exeter constituency for the visit there by Her Majesty on 1 May.
	Baroness Amos will attend the Commonwealth Day observance on 11 March (I shall be at the General Affairs Council in Brussels).
	The FCO are sponsoring the tour of the Queen's golden jubilee baton through 20 Commonwealth countries. It will leave London on Monday 11 March, Commonwealth Day, and return to the UK on 5 June. Our posts overseas will arrange events and encourage publicity to support the baton's passage, supported by the local Commonwealth games associations and the British Council. We have also sponsored some aspects of the Spirit of Friendship festival associated with the 17th Commonwealth games in Manchester this summer, one of the high points of the jubilee.
	Additionally, there will be eight open days from April to October when the FCO will be open to view by members of the public. It is one of the String of Pearls of historic public buildings that will be open to the public, along the banks of the Thames in central London.
	We have issued general guidance to all our posts overseas on the celebrations of the golden jubilee. Many embassies and high commissions may use the occasion of the jubilee to enhance their regular Queen's Birthday Party. Missions will possibly hold additional events using publicity materials specifically prepared for the jubilee in the FCO, taking into account their local circumstances, and the Queen's desire that there should be no undue expenditure from public funds.

HEALTH

HIV

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will ensure that priority is given to HIV prevention work after April.

Yvette Cooper: The Department will monitor investment in HIV prevention through the national health service performance assessment framework and through returns required under the AIDS (Control) Act 1987. This work will be underpinned by the proposed target to reduce by 25 per cent. the number of newly acquired HIV infections and gonorrhoea infections by the end of 2007, set out in the sexual health and HIV strategy.

Audiology Treatment

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients aged (a) 16 to 59, (b) 60 to 75 and (c) over 75 years have been waiting for (i) less than one year, (ii) more than one year and (iii) more than two years for a hearing test at (A) the Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust and (B) the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust by quarter in the last three years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Information is not available in the format requested centrally.

North Staffordshire Health Authority

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the health spending per head of population was in the North Staffordshire health authority in (a) 19992000, (b) 200001, (c) 200102 and (d) estimated for 200203.

Yvette Cooper: Health spending per head of population in North Staffordshire health authority was 675.34 in 19992000 and 725.72 in 200001. Future estimates of spending are not available.
	Notes:
	1. In many health authorities there are factors which distort the expenditure per head. These include:
	the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission health care;
	asset revaluations in NHS trusts being funded through health authorities; and
	some double counting of expenditure between health authorities and primary care trusts within the health authority area.
	Expenditure on health per head cannot therefore be reliably compared between health authorities.
	Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of health authorities.
	2. Expenditure on health is taken from health authority and primary care trust summarisation forms which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total spent on the commission of health care by the health authority and by the primary care trusts within each health authority area. The majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the health authority or primary care trust accounts and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board.
	3. Health authorities and primary care trusts should account for their expenditure on a gross basis. This results in an element of double counting where one body acts as the main commissioner and is then reimbursed by other bodies. The effect of this double counting within the answer cannot be readily identified.
	Source:
	Health authority audited summarisation forms 19992000 and 200001
	Primary care trust audited summarisation schedules 200001
	Weighted population estimates for 19992000 and 200001.

Arthur Andersen

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many of his Department's PFI contracts Arthur Andersen has been an adviser; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Of the 23 major private finance initiative projects that have reached financial close, Arthur Andersen were lead financial advisers on oneBromley Healthcare NHS Trust. Bromley reached financial close in November 1998.
	Arthur Andersen is not acting as lead financial adviser on any of the major PFI schemes currently in procurement. However, their legal arm, Andersen Legal, is acting for Stoke Mandeville NHS Trust on their scheme which is currently in procurement.

Departmental Expenditure

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his Department's total expenditure by month in each financial year since 199798.

John Hutton: The monthly expenditure by the Department for the period 1 April 1997 to 31 December 2001 is shown in the table.
	
		000 
		
			 Month 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 April 3,289,571 3,272,043 3,981,814 4,334,631 4,352,192 
			 May 3,363,658 3,131,688 3,049,401 3,258,726 4,279,585 
			 June 2,902,421 3,304,207 3,568,651 4,288,344 4,795,583 
			 July 3,289,298 3,785,692 3,986,260 3,397,964 3,971,748 
			 August 3,079,196 2,785,252 3,922,629 3,776,939 5,132,307 
			 September 3,425,728 4,758,707 3,617,399 4,522,599 4,247,376 
			 October 3,703,245 3,764,203 3,597,776 3,520,058 4,702,310 
			 November 2,680,109 4,980,046 3,632,962 3,878,473 5,208,304 
			 December 3,624,934 3,819,993 4,375,852 4,623,396 5,604,820 
			 January 3,239,372 3,102,676 3,216,403 3,646,583  
			 February 3,269,260 3,888,446 3,857,369 4,478,028  
			 March 3,827,711 4,651,852 4,741,358 5,867,822  
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures represent the actual monthly cash expenditure in round 000.
	2. Figures are shown gross of income receipts.

Rape Victims

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has in place to provide support to victims of rape; and what funding he provides to support rape victims.

Jacqui Smith: The first step for most people will be to discuss the problem with their general medical practitioner. We have set out clear national standards in the National Service Framework for mental health. It describes how people should be able to get quicker access to more effective treatments in and through primary care, with support from specialised services where necessary. Some people may also seek help through other routes, including specialised services in the charitable and voluntary sector. We support a selection of such services each year.
	People who have been raped need access to a variety of services including forensic examination, counselling and treatment to prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. These services are provided by a number of agencies including general medical practitioners and genito-urinary medicine clinics. Counselling provision will be strengthened by the clear national standards in the National Service Framework for Mental Health.

Breast-feeding

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to promote breast- feeding.

Yvette Cooper: We take very seriously our responsibility to protect infant health in the United Kingdom, and support the promotion of breast-feeding. It is important that women and their partners are able to make a fully informed choice on how to feed their babies based on accurate and consistent information. This means that women should have access to information about all infant feeding practices through the relevant health care professional.
	The Infant Feeding Initiative was established in May 1999 with the aim to increase the incidence and duration of breast-feeding among those groups of the population where breast-feeding rates are the lowest, as well as to help all women to make informed choices about how they feed their infant. Breast-feeding rates are low in lower socio- economic groups. A total budget of nearly 3 million over three years from Public Health Development Fund has been allocated for this initiative and reflects our commitment to tackle health inequalities that was highlighted by the Acheson report.
	It included the appointment of two part-time National Infant Feeding Advisers and funding of 79 best practice projects to date to enable effective communication and evaluation of current good practice, to address the barriers to breast-feeding, and thereby lead to improved breast- feeding rates among those least likely to breast-feed. This has resulted in joint working efforts between health professionals and voluntary organisations. Sure start initiatives also support local projects on breast-feeding.
	Other departmental activity includes support for an annual National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, support to four main voluntary organisations involved in the promotion of breast-feeding, research into breast-feeding through quinquennial surveys of infant feeding practices, and maintaining close links with UNICEF's Baby Friendly Initiative.
	The forthcoming Children's National Service Framework will address maternity services that can help to give all children a good start in life to grow into healthy adults.

GPs (London)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs are practising in Greater London; and what the figure was in 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The information requested is provided in the table.
	
		All practitioners (excluding GP retainers)(40) and unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)(41) -- London region and England, 1997 and 2000headcount
		
			  1997 2000 
		
		
			  All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) 
			 England 29,389 30,252 
			 London Region 4,532 4,548 
			 of which:   
			 UPEs   
			 England 27,099 27,704 
			 London Region 3,849 3,951 
		
	
	(40) All Practitioners (excluding GP Retainers) include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (para 52 SFA), and PMS Other.
	(41) UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.
	Note:
	GP Retainers figures were first collected in the 1999 census. In September 2000, there were 1,117 GP Retainers in England and 146 in London Region.
	1997 data have been converted to correspond with April 1999 regional boundaries.
	Data as at 1 October 1997 and 30 September 2000.
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Hospital Waiting Times

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatric patients who received hospital treatment in each health authority area between 1 September 2000 and 1 September 2001 waited (a) under four weeks, (b) under three months, (c) under six months, (d) under eight months, (e) under 12 months, (f) under 18 months and (g) over 18 months for admission to hospital.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The data requested for the latest available period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 are in the table.
	
		Waiting times for waiting list and booked admissions for all paediatric specialties NHS hospitals, England 200001(42)
		
			  Duration of elective wait 
			  Up to 4 weeks 4 weeks to 3 months 36 months 68 months 812 months 1218 months Over 18 months 
		
		
			 Hillingdon HA 181 63 16 4 4 1 0 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 144 137 68 40 27 26 0 
			 Enfield and Haringey HA 279 126 66 26 17 6 1 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 152 86 69 18 14 2 0 
			 Bedfordshire HA 212 93 30 15 10 2 0 
			 Berkshire HA 229 116 35 10 28 6 0 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 641 204 54 23 21 3 2 
			 Bexley and Greenwich HA 432 194 71 16 18 1 0 
			 Bromley HA 277 149 58 14 10 3 0 
			 Croydon HA 302 101 39 7 16 9 1 
			 East Kent HA 318 88 26 7 7 1 0 
			 West Kent HA 426 337 101 22 21 4 0 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 137 136 46 14 16 5 1 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 1,066 619 232 50 41 11 0 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 507 728 236 62 50 19 6 
			 East Surrey HA 168 178 68 29 22 9 1 
			 West Surrey HA 158 75 52 17 16 10 1 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA 674 399 229 113 52 16 1 
			 West Sussex HA 311 221 144 51 36 10 1 
			 Barking and Havering HA 101 78 52 16 4 1 0 
			 Barnet HA 165 101 49 16 9 3 0 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 236 162 67 26 15 14 0 
			 Camden and Islington HA 285 198 102 19 12 4 0 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 716 229 70 41 44 18 2 
			 East London and The City HA 498 312 199 45 47 6 0 
			 North Essex HA 157 115 57 13 10 4 0 
			 South Essex HA 382 181 60 12 8 4 1 
			 South Lancashire HA 96 51 16 3 5 4 0 
			 Liverpool HA 291 343 126 26 20 5 1 
			 Manchester HA 566 98 70 27 31 80 12 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 96 112 23 7 4 8 4 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley HA 268 206 59 8 6 4 0 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 203 67 49 14 21 62 4 
			 Sefton HA 181 125 45 9 5 1 0 
			 Stockport HA 97 29 21 9 12 29 6 
			 West Pennine HA 145 79 26 14 18 82 9 
			 Northamptonshire HA 501 140 31 12 19 9 2 
			 Oxfordshire HA 616 335 84 19 21 17 2 
			 Suffolk HA 279 149 32 5 7 5 0 
			 Barnsley HA 128 117 35 4 3 0 0 
			 North Derbyshire HA 220 130 47 6 4 3 0 
			 South Derbyshire HA 231 195 162 84 43 9 0 
			 Doncaster HA 114 109 37 12 3 0 0 
			 Leicestershire HA 328 395 220 93 29 9 1 
			 Lincolnshire HA 113 61 24 5 8 3 0 
			 North Nottinghamshire HA 172 116 30 5 9 1 0 
			 Nottingham HA 389 296 79 19 27 16 5 
			 Rotherham HA 132 119 34 2 2 1 0 
			 Sheffield HA 1,006 407 123 28 21 1 0 
			 Bury and Rochdale HA 577 60 34 15 14 73 8 
			 North Cheshire HA 78 90 38 4 6 5 1 
			 South Cheshire HA 160 78 39 12 16 8 4 
			 East Lancashire HA 436 82 24 21 9 52 8 
			 North West Lancashire HA 124 53 10 4 2 7 1 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 83 90 66 20 14 5 2 
			 Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA 75 110 60 15 12 4 0 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire HA 150 296 231 81 52 14 9 
			 Isle of Wight HA 10 21 22 5 9 4 1 
			 Somerset HA 770 93 20 5 7 3 0 
			 South and West Devon HA 1,561 77 17 5 2 0 0 
			 Wiltshire HA 399 141 40 14 14 9 1 
			 Avon HA 1,301 507 152 44 23 0 0 
			 Birmingham HA 490 353 166 46 99 19 2 
			 Wigan and Bolton HA 222 38 19 2 11 34 3 
			 Wirral HA 72 66 28 2 4 0 0 
			 Bradford HA 787 272 44 15 23 11 3 
			 County Durham HA 172 120 79 25 19 11 1 
			 East Riding HA 517 207 84 32 35 9 2 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside HA 577 139 19 0 4 3 1 
			 Leeds HA 751 263 108 41 36 32 9 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside HA 34 4 0 0 1 0 0 
			 North Cumbria HA 22 16 6 7 10 2 0 
			 South Humber HA 93 63 26 3 4 0 0 
			 Northumberland HA 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sunderland HA 611 170 62 1 3 1 0 
			 Tees HA 30 9 2 1 0 0 0 
			 Wakefield HA 372 49 28 3 5 14 2 
			 North Yorkshire HA 675 132 55 17 15 16 3 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees HA 463 81 36 16 12 9 2 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA 283 54 13 4 5 0 0 
			 Dorset HA 214 137 101 19 10 6 1 
			 North and East Devon HA 104 45 24 9 5 3 0 
			 Gloucestershire HA 970 161 48 10 12 4 0 
			 Coventry HA 79 43 16 7 5 1 0 
			 Dudley HA 70 38 21 3 5 2 0 
			 Herefordshire HA 127 70 18 2 3 3 0 
			 Sandwell HA 187 59 26 7 9 4 0 
			 Shropshire Ha 247 50 22 3 3 1 1 
			 Solihull HA 40 25 7 2 4 5 0 
			 North Staffordshire HA 785 50 15 3 5 6 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA 970 186 48 12 11 5 0 
			 Walsall HA 200 78 41 6 8 6 0 
			 Warwickshire HA 110 90 29 4 15 3 0 
			 Wolverhampton HA 733 35 4 1 4 3 0 
			 Worcestershire HA 177 116 29 11 9 5 0 
			 East and North Hertfordshire HA 172 89 36 14 12 0 0 
			 West Hertfordshire HA 165 101 53 9 15 6 0 
			 Cambridge HA 223 129 32 2 6 2 0 
			 Norfolk HA 368 537 76 10 9 0 1 
		
	
	(42) 1 April to 31 March
	Notes:
	1. Waiting time statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and waiting times for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment at a given point in time and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the waiting time as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	2. Figures in this table have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Hospital Waiting Lists

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is towards the suspension from hospital waiting lists of patients recovering from the first stage of a bilateral procedure.

John Hutton: holding answer 9 January 2002
	Patients who are recovering from the first stage of a bilateral operation should not be suspended from the waiting list but should be placed on the planned list.

Antidepressants

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the side effects of tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; and what evidence he has collated on their impact on suicidal tendencies in their users.

Hazel Blears: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are effective medicines in the treatment of depression, features of which may include suicidal behaviour. It is known that features of depression, including suicidal behaviour, can worsen after introduction of any antidepressant prior to its beneficial effect being apparent.
	As with all medicines the safety of TCAs and selective SSRIs is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The safety profiles of TCAs and SSRIs are well established and are reflected in the product information for prescribers and patients.
	Reports of adverse effects, including suicidal behaviour, suspected to be associated with SSRIs and TCAs are collated by MCA/CSM through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the yellow card scheme. These data are reviewed on a regular basis.
	A possible causal association between SSRIs and suicidal behaviour has been reviewed by the CSM on a number of occasions, most recently in 2001. The CSM concluded that the current evidence is insufficient to confirm a causal association between SSRIs and suicidal behaviour and advised that the issue should be kept under review.
	The product information and the British National Formulary warn that patients should be closely monitored for suicidal impulses, particularly in the early stages of treatment. An article emphasising this advice was published in the MCA/CSM drug safety bulletin Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance in September 2000.

International Recruitment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2001, Official Report, column 647W, on international recruitment, by what means he monitors the results of the international recruitment and regional international recruitment co-ordinators; and if he will publish the names of the international nursing recruitment agencies who fail to adhere to his guidance.

John Hutton: holding answer 21 January 2002
	International recruitment is monitored by the international recruitment co-ordinators who work closely with the national health service employers recruiting internationally. Their role is to ensure that the code of practice is followed and that developing countries are not targeted for international recruitment by providing guidance and advice directly to NHS trusts. The director of international recruitment reviews this process monthly.
	Recruitment agencies who fail to adhere to the code of practice will not be used by NHS organisations.

NHS Assets

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each three star NHS trust in England the estimated value of assets held in (a) land and (b) buildings at the latest date for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The table shows the estimated net book value of three star national health service trust's (a) land and (b) buildings installations and fittings as at 31 March 2001.
	
		NHS trust tangible fixed assetsnet book value as at 31 March 2001 -- 000
		
			  NHS trust code  NHS trust name  Land Buildings, installations and fittings 
		
		
			 RGT Addenbrooke's NHS Trust 21,243 99,308 
			 RDD Basildon and Thurrock General Hospital NHS Trust 23,135 58,525 
			 RCP Bassetlaw Hospital and Community Health Service Trust 4,070 31,496 
			 RMB Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust 5,095 73,620 
			 RMR Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust 5,303 53,338 
			 RAE Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust 9,373 85,701 
			 RGA Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust 3,376 21,926 
			 RCV Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust 7,490 117,702 
			 RFS Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Hospital Trust 8,150 37,033 
			 RLN City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust 5,645 76,452 
			 RJR Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust 6,064 36,581 
			 RA5 East Gloucestershire NHS Trust 22,507 84,159 
			 RDU Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust 9,900 47,757 
			 RGB Huddersfield Health Care Services NHS Trust 8,359 57,213 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust 21,356 108,796 
			 RC9 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 6,887 35,855 
			 RQ8 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 45,921 78,138 
			 RTX Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 10,481 111,631 
			 RM1 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust 2,492 4,258 
			 RVW North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust 7,595 73,964 
			 RNS Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 15,152 60,348 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 9,172 39,126 
			 RTF Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 14,619 116,072 
			 RGN Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 4,454 24,064 
			 RQW Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 16,000 34,386 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 16,813 10,432 
			 RH8 Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust 21,431 94,218 
			 RK5 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 6,504 41,003 
			 RA9 South Devon Health Care NHS Trust 21,906 72,567 
			 RTA South Durham Health Care NHS Trust 6,558 43,184 
			 RE9 South Tyneside Health Care NHS Trust 6,523 51,546 
			 RTG Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 12,313 103,241 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 11,448 77,073 
			 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 6,400 29,101 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 24,010 62,879 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 200001

Hospital Performance

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of (a) the effect of under investment and (b) the poor performance of management with regard to persistently failing NHS hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The national health service performance ratings for acute trusts were published in September 2001. The ratings show that hospitals of a similar size perform differently. Variations in performance are largely down to hospital management teams. The direct effect of funding levels on performance has not been used in deciding the ratings, although maintaining financial balance is a key target.
	The poorest performing, zero star trusts, have submitted performance improvement plans to the Department. These are being reviewed and will subsequently be monitored. The modernisation agency is playing a full role in this process, to bring the performance of these trusts up to a level that patients have the right to expect.

Hospital Performance

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take into account (a) social, (b) economic and (c) demographic data when assessing an NHS hospital's (i) success and (ii) failure rate.

John Hutton: The national health service performance ratings for acute trusts, published in September 2001, were based on areas of performance that are under the influence of hospital managers. Where appropriate, the performance indicators used in the assessment are standardised to take into account the age and sex of patients to make meaningful comparisons between hospital trusts.

Drop-in Body Scans

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proposal by private firms to offer drop-in body scans claiming to identify cancer and heart disease; and what (a) checks and (b) licensing a company must undergo to ensure that such a service is (i) reliable and (ii) effective.

Yvette Cooper: From 1 April this year the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) will take over from health authorities the regulation of independent health care providers under the Care Standards Act 2000. For the first time, owners and managers of independent drop-in medical services and exclusively private general practitioners offering primary care or diagnostic services to the public will be obliged to register with the NCSC, comply with regulations and meet core and service- specific national minimum standards.
	Treatment and diagnostic services provided solely by registered nurses or other non-medical health professionals will not be required to register with the NCSC. However, under the Care Standards Act my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has powers to make regulations to bring services not initially regulated by the National Care Standards Commission under regulation at a future date.
	Other specific legislation requires that all medical exposures to ionising radiation, such as X-rays or CT scans, whether undertaken in the national health service or private sector must be justified.

Health Action Zones

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the level of funding for health action zones for the financial year 200304.

Hazel Blears: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 389W.

Staff Shortages

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has been made of staff shortages of (a) doctors, (b) nurses, and (c) scientific personnel in the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authority; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We are aware of the difficulties that have been faced by trusts in the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire area in recruiting doctors, nurses and scientific personnel. A task force has been established locally, to look at staffing needs across the health authority. Details of local initiatives to recruit staff will be available from the chairmen of the health authority and national health service trusts.
	Information collected centrally on staff vacancies is published on the Department's website.

Wheelchairs

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his policy is on the purchase by health authorities of wheelchairs and mobility products made in Britain;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that the wheelchairs and mobility products purchased by health authorities meet British fire safety standards.

Jacqui Smith: The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency has negotiated a national contract for powered and manual wheelchairs (for England). The wheelchairs supplied under this contract conform to all relevant British and European safety standards.
	Although health authorities and NHS trusts are expected to use this national contract they do have the freedom to purchase from different suppliers, depending on local circumstances. It is therefore their responsibility to ensure the contracts conform to all relevant British and European safety standards.

Wheelchairs

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the level of safety standards on wheelchair and mobility products being purchased by health authorities.

Jacqui Smith: The Medical Devices Agency, (MDA), maintains a database of all incidents reported to them concerning safety or quality problems with wheelchairs. MDA regularly carry out trend analysis on the content of reports received from United Kingdom, Europe and United States of America and also on the outcomes of any subsequent investigations. If these trends reveal the need for individual manufacturers to re-design their products or improve their usage instructions, labelling, repair instructions or quality control etc manufacturers are informed and MDA monitor the situation until appropriate improvements are made. Also, if any of these trends reveal a shortcoming in an issued British standard concerning wheelchairs or a need for a new standard, the MDA work with the British Standards Institution, (BSI), to make any necessary revisions or assist with the drafting of any new standard.
	MDA maintain regular contact with the Purchasing and Supply Agency to ensure that they can consider any possible effects on existing or future purchase agreements.

Wheelchairs

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he takes to monitor the safety and quality of wheelchairs purchased by health authorities.

Jacqui Smith: The Medical Devices Agency, (MDA), has specific responsibility on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to safeguard public health where medical devices are involved. MDA has an established wide ranging reporting system, which is open to users, carers and health care staff etc who wish to report safety or quality problems concerning medical devices. Within the Medical Device Regulations manufacturers are legally bound to report to MDA on any serious safety problems concerning their devices. MDA also carry out pro-active investigations on a range of manufacturers to ensure that they are in compliance with the requirements of the regulations.
	Within this overall remit, MDA has a specific unit responsible for wheeled mobility devices where all reported incidents concerning the quality or safety of wheelchairs are considered. If the unit's investigation highlights a need for an improvement in a wheelchair's design, usage instructions or manufacturing process then appropriate action is taken with the manufacturer/supplier.

Huntington's Disease

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specialist facilities are available for sufferers of Huntington's disease in (a) Northumberland, (b) Durham, (c) Cumbria, (d) North Yorkshire, (e) East Riding of Yorkshire, (f) Lincolnshire, (g) Norfolk, (h) Suffolk, (i) Essex, (j) Cambridgeshire, (k) Buckinghamshire, (l) Herefordshire, (m) Oxfordshire, (n) Berkshire, (o) Wiltshire, (p) Gloucestershire, (q) Hampshire, (r) Somerset, (s) Kent, (t) Sussex, (u) Isle of Wight, (v) Dorset, (w) Devon and (x) Cornwall.

Jacqui Smith: Information on local service configuration in England, such as the availability of specialist facilities for patients with Huntington's disease, is not collected centrally. It is a decision for health authorities, in partnership with primary care groups/trusts and other local stakeholders, to assess the health needs of their populations, including those with Huntington's disease, and to commission services to meet those needs.

National Radiological Protection Board

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the functions currently carried out in Scotland by the National Radiological Protection Board after the formation of the National Infection Control and Health Protection Agency;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Scotland Office regarding the proposals for the disbanding of the National Radiological Protection Board and its amalgamation into the NICHP;
	(3)  what consultations the Chief Medical Officer had with agencies in Scotland prior to making his recommendations on the National Infection Control and Health Protection Agency.

Yvette Cooper: Discussions are taking place between the Department and the Scottish Executive about how the proposals will affect Scotland. These discussions include consideration of how the functions currently exercised in Scotland by the National Radiological Protection Board might be affected by the proposed creation of the National Infection Control and Health Protection Agency.

Infectious Diseases

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendations contained in the report, Getting Ahead of the Curve-A Strategy for Combating Infectious Diseases.

Yvette Cooper: The strategy includes a commitment to have updated plans in place by the end of 2002 for health care associated infection; tuberculosis; antimicrobial resistance; and blood-borne and sexually transmitted viruses. We hope to set up the new National Infection Control and Health Protection Agency at the latest by 1 April 2003, and will be working to have other elements of the strategy in place as soon as possible. Preparation of the strategy took account of a wide range of views, and we shall consult further as we work up the details of how to take particular components of the strategy forward.

Head Injuries

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age was of an individual sustaining a head injury in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The table shows the information requested for the year 200001.
	
		Finished consultant episodes (FCE) by main diagnosis, age group and average ageNHS hospitals, England 200001
		
			  Age  
			 Diagnosis 04 1014 1544 4564 6574 7584 85 and over Not known Median Total 
		
		
			 S00 superficial injury of head 1,835 1,931 3,630 967 536 1,214 1,248 18 27 11,379 
			 S01 open wound of head 4,877 3,642 8,567 2,753 1,172 2,191 2,652 29 28 25,883 
			 S02 fracture of skull and facial bones 1,549 2,924 19,226 2,842 640 711 408 18 25 28,318 
			 S03 dislocation sprain and strain of joints and ligaments of head 77 62 120 15 8 22 10 0 18 314 
			 S04 injury of cranial nerves 5 3 43 13 4 0 0 0 32 68 
			 S05 injury of eye and orbit 157 527 1,440 454 175 245 232 0 33 3,230 
			 S06 intracranial injury 772 1,360 4,664 2,100 990 1,246 739 21 38 11,892 
			 S07 crushing injury of head 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 40 5 
			 S08 traumatic amputation of part of head 1 5 92 9 5 4 7 0 31 123 
			 S09 other and unspecified injuries of head 6,279 7,964 13,974 4,150 1,624 2,587 2,562 35 23 39,175 
			  
			 Total 15,552 18,418 51,759 13,304 5,154 8,221 7,858 121 26 120,387 
		
	
	An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year. The main diagnosis is the first of seven diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics data set, and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital. Figures in this table have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data.

Head Injuries

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the classifications for determining the severity of a head injury are.

Jacqui Smith: The Glasgow Coma Scale is the most widely used system for classifying the severity of head injuries. This scale assigns points to each patient based upon three categories: verbal function, eye opening, and best motor (movement) response. Additional information on severity is provided by X-ray and from CT and MR scans.

Head Injuries

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will reclassify brain injury rehabilitation as a specialist service within the NHS.

Jacqui Smith: Rehabilitation for brain injuries is already defined as a specialised service, ie it has a planning population larger than the total population of several primary care teams and sometimes larger than the population of a strategic health authority. It was included in the National Specialised Services Definitions Set published by the Department on its website in December 2001.

Head Injuries

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals have sustained a head injury in each of the past five years.

Jacqui Smith: Around one million people a year receive a head injury in the UK, and over 100,000 of those attend hospital. We have hospital activity data on the number and type of injuries as shown in the table:
	
		Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) by main diagnosis NHS hospitals, England 199596 to 200001
		
			 S00-S09 Injuries to the head 199596 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 S00 Superficial injury of head 9,731 10,829 11,000 10,875 12,293 11,379 
			 S01 Open wound of head 20,180 23,186 23,824 23,668 27,184 25,883 
			 S02 Fracture of skull and facial bones 29,839 31,419 30,265 27,837 30,825 28,318 
			 S03 Dislocation sprain and strain of joints and ligaments of head 317 381 367 410 349 314 
			 S04 Injury of cranial nerves 78 63 94 96 106 68 
			 S05 Injury of eye and orbit 3,655 3,503 3,320 3,255 3,591 3,230 
			 S06 Intracranial injury 23,226 20,036 16,529 11,942 12,790 11,892 
			 S07 Crushing injury of head 30 16 11 19 16 5 
			 S08 Traumatic amputation of part of head 127 116 102 111 123 123 
			 S09 Other and unspecified injuries of head 40,912 42,193 41,102 40,163 43,271 39,175 
			  
			 Total 128,096 131,742 126,615 118,376 130,548 120,387 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.
	2. Data for 199596 to 199798 are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.
	3. 199899 to 200001 data are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.

Head Injuries

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the National Service Framework for long-term conditions will cover vocational rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has said that the National Service Framework (NSF) for long-term conditions will have a particular focus on the needs of people with neurological disease and brain and spinal injury.

Head Injuries

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will change the Government's response to the Health Committee's Third report of Session 200001 into Rehabilitation Following Head Injury, to take account of criticism from (a) Headway, (b) Rehab UK and (c) other organisations.

Jacqui Smith: We are aware of the concerns expressed by Headway, Rehab UK and others about our response to the Health Committee's report. We do not, however, intend to change our response as there are a number of initiatives under way that will help improve services for people with head injury. These include the National Service Framework on long term conditions and the clinical guideline for the initial assessment, management and first referral of patients with head injury that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has been asked to produce.
	We think that it is better to invest time to appraise the existing service configuration of head injury services across the national health service, so that we can get it right for the future.

Head Injuries

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of individuals who survived a head injury who (a) returned to work within a year, (b) return to work within five years and (c) never returned to work in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: No assessment has been made of the percentage of head injured individuals who return to work.
	We are keen to help ensure that disabled people, including those with head injury, are able to return to work whenever possible. Currently local authorities are taking the lead on joint investment plans on the Welfare to Work for disabled people initiative. The idea of these plans is to provide effective and joined up services for disabled people who want to work, to stay in work, or to move closer to the world of work.

Head Injuries

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce further measures to simplify the funding streams available to organisations offering vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with acquired brain injury.

Jacqui Smith: The final stages of the process of rehabilitation for people who have acquired brain injury may be an individualised programme of employment rehabilitation delivered through the employment service's work preparation programme. The employment service has worked with the organisations delivering work preparation for people with brain injuries to produce a national framework. This will result in greater coherence within regions and countries in terms of the scope and duration of its individualised programmes.

Silicone Cosmesis

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been allocated by his Department to individual health authorities in the (a) current and (b) previous financial years for the provision of silicone cosmesis; and what monitoring procedures exist to ensure that the funds are used to provide cosmesis for amputees.

Jacqui Smith: On the 9 January 2001 we announced that funding totalling 4 million to provide silicone cosmesis to prosthetic limb users was to be made available over the next three years. The funding started with 0.5 million for 200102, 1.5 million for 200203 and 2 million for 200304. This was an addition to the baseline allocations to individual health authorities.
	Each local health authority will provide funding to individual disablement service centres (DSCs) to provide silicone cosmesis. To support this initiative officials in my Department wrote, on 12 December 2001, to all health authorities reminding them that this funding has been provided to them in their allocations.
	The contract for purchasing silicone cosmesis covers was awarded on 1 October 2001 and the contractor is required to provide the NHS purchasing and supply agency with quarterly contract sales figures which will include:
	total sales figure in s
	s spent by each DSC
	what span of products are purchased.

Health Authority Expenditure

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2002, Official Report, columns 6364W, on health authority expenditure, if he will publish the latest forecast outturn for 200102 for each health authority and NHS trust in the south-east region of England;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library details of the savings in expenditure which the NHS south-east regional executive is requiring each trust and health authority to make by 31 March; and if he will make a statement on the implications of those savings for the services and the capital expenditure programmes of each trust and health authority.

John Hutton: holding answers 25 January and 29 January 2002
	Health bodies in the south-east reported in mid January a projected overspend at the end of the financial year of 60 million. Support is being provided to ensure that this can be managed without any adverse effect on patient care principally through brokerage from elsewhere in the national health service. This is normal practice in managing the year-end financial position. Discussions will therefore be ongoing, with the financial position being closely monitored right up to the end of the financial year.

Autism

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many psychiatrists are employed by the NHS to diagnose and treat autistic spectrum children;
	(2)  what plans he has to allow autistic spectrum children to receive their social communication assessments in the private sector when they have waited longer than 12 months in the NHS;
	(3)  what the waiting time has been for a social communication assessment on autistic spectrum children by psychiatrists in the last year for which figures are available;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the Royal College of Psychology concerning the effect of delay in diagnosis on the eventual outcome for autistic spectrum children.

Jacqui Smith: Diagnosis of autism and early interventions are being considered by an independent group chaired by Professor Ann Le Couteur which is expected to report in 2002. The Royal Colleges of Psychiatrists and Paediatrics and Child Health, the National Autistic Society and the British Psychological Society are all represented. The Department and the Department for Education and Skills both have observers on the group. We will consider what further discussions may be required in the light of the group's report.
	As we develop the National Service Framework (NSF) for children we will consider the needs of disabled children, including those with autism. The NSF will set out to tackle inequalities, raise standards and reduce unacceptable variations in NHS and social services. We have recently announced that one of the exemplars we will use to show how services should be provided will be around services for children with autism.
	The data requested on numbers of psychiatrists and waiting times for assessments are not collected centrally. We recognise that assessment of communication skills plays an important part in the diagnosis of autism. This requires a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency assessment and may be led by a consultant community paediatrician or a child and adolescent psychiatrist. In some places specialist learning disability psychiatrists offer a service to children as well as adults and they, rather than child and adolescent psychiatrists, will be involved in diagnosis and management of children with autism. All these professionals have a broad range of responsibilities. The proportion of their time devoted to diagnosis and treatment of autism will vary. In the three years ending 31 March 2002 we will have invested some 85 million in children and adolescent mental health services across the national health service and local authorities.
	We have no objection in principle to involving the private sector in assessment processes at whatever stage may be appropriate. Local statutory authorities have a duty to ensure that the particular health and social care needs of each person with autism are met with genuine choices for both clients and families, through the most appropriate community based services, in a cost-effective way. They should determine the pattern of services in their areas in the light of their knowledge of local needs.

Overhead Power Cables

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of cases of (a) leukaemia, (b) skin cancer and (c) lung cancer which may be attributed to overhead power cables near places of residence.

Yvette Cooper: The Department obtains advice on the possible health implications of exposure to electromagnetic fields, including the extremely low frequency fields (ELF) associated with overhead power cables, from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB).
	In March last year, the NRPB's Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) issued a report on ELF Electromagnetic Fields and the Risk of Cancer. This was issued following a wide-ranging and thorough review of scientific research related to this issue. The group concluded that the power frequency electromagnetic fields that exist in the vast majority of homes are not a cause of cancer in general. However, some epidemiological studies do indicate a possible doubling of the risk of childhood leukaemia associated with exposure to unusually high levels of power frequency magnetic fields. The AGNIR found no clear evidence of a carcinogenic effect in adults or of a plausible explanation from experiments on animals or isolated cells. Their view was that the epidemiological evidence is currently not strong enough to justify a firm conclusion that such fields cause leukaemia in children.
	The board of NRPB issued a statement following publication of the AGNIR report. This indicated that if the doubling of the risk of leukaemia in children with exposures to magnetic fields above 0.4 T (400 nanotesla) was causal then an additional two cases of childhood leukaemia might be caused each year in the UK in addition to the 500 cases that would arise from other causes. Possibly one case every two years would be due to proximity to powerlines. There is no clear evidence of effects of magnetic fields on other cancers in children or of any cancers in adults. The AGNIR is, however, examining the possible effects on health of corona ions generated by powerlines. A number of concerns have been raised by members of the academic community in the United Kingdom that corona ions may have an influence on the behaviour of pollutant aerosols and cause an increase in exposure which could cause increases in risk of cancer or other diseases.

Midwifery

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the availability of funding for full-time midwifery degrees in Scotland from August on the numbers of English students registering for courses in (a) England and (b) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 28 January 2002
	Midwifery courses are oversubscribed in both countries and we do not envisage any unfavourable impact from the re-organisation of funding in Scotland.
	Work force development confederations will continue to work with the universities, with whom they have contracted midwifery education, to ensure suitable applicants fill all the available places in England.

Meningitis

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffered from group C meningitis and septicaemia in each year since 1997 in each health region.

Yvette Cooper: The number of laboratory confirmed cases of Group C meningococcal disease between 1997 and 2001 are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Region 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(43) 
		
		
			 Eastern 47 54 61 70 25 
			 London 99 91 127 132 57 
			 North-west 146 143 204 109 46 
			 Northern and Yorkshire 115 133 153 79 36 
			 South-east 105 100 116 102 39 
			 South-west 77 59 60 41 26 
			 Trent 104 109 110 69 51 
			 West midlands 69 77 79 74 19 
			  
			 England total 762 766 910 676 299 
		
	
	(43) 2001 data are highly provisional

Food Imports

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the regulation of food imports.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 31 January 2002
	All imports of products of animal origin, such as meat and dairy products, to the United Kingdom from countries outside of the European Union are subject to harmonised EU import controls. All such imports must enter the UK through designated border inspection posts where they undergo documentary and identity checks and a proportion are subject to physical checks. Food which is not of animal origin, such as fruit and vegetables, from countries outside of the EU is subject to import controls under UK national legislation and is subject to checks on the basis of risk assessment by local port health authorities and local food authorities at the point of entry to the UK.
	Food coming to the UK from other EU member states is in free circulation within the EU and is not subject to routine checks at UK ports. Such food can be subject to import checks where there is information to support such action.
	Once admitted to the UK, all imported food may be subject to the same checks at retail level by local authorities in the same way as those applicable to UK produced food.
	The Board of the Food Standards Agency recently approved a report containing a number of proposals aimed at improving the co-ordination of enforcement action on imports and the effectiveness of inspection of import controls. Agency officials are exploring these proposals further and will report back to the board.

Health Authorities (London)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest forecasts are of the (a) underspending or ovespending for the present financial year, (b) funding pressures which impact on the 200203 planning round and (c) deficits in the local health economy in each health authority in London submitted to the London regional office.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 January 2002
	By the end of this financial year we expect all health authorities to live within their agreed resource limits. Where they require support at year-end, this will be provided principally through brokerage from elsewhere in the national health service. This is normal practice in managing the year end financial position of individual bodies and for the NHS overall.
	The London regional office is in discussions with health authorities and trusts about managing their 200102 year-end positions. The London region forecasts financial balance.
	Information on 200203 is not available.

Mobile Phones

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the 7 million research funding on mobile phones will be used to examine the safety of mobile phone masts.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 31 January 2002
	The mobile telephone health research (MTHR) programme that has recently been announced follows from the publication of a report in May 2000 by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones under the chairmanship of Sir William Stewart FRS, FRSE on Mobile Phones and Health. Radio signals from handsets were identified as a research priority because local exposures of people using phones are in general appreciably higher than exposures to the whole body from base stations. In both cases, however, exposures need to comply with exposure guidelines.
	The first group of proposals agreed for funding by the programme management committee has generally related to the areas of research identified in the Stewart report. Although the main focus of much of the funded research relates to the use of mobile phones, in practice many of the experimental studies will also be valuable in providing evidence on any possible effects on people of exposures to radiofrequency (RF) radiation from base stations. The agreed programme includes a study on exposures from the newer types of base station that are being introduced in urban areas. Details of research now approved for funding are given on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk.
	A second call for proposals was issued last year with a deadline for submission of outline proposals of Friday 25 January 2002. The aim of this call was to extend the range of research being carried out in the MTHR programme. One aim of this call was to seek further proposals for volunteer studies that will examine possible effects of RF exposure of people. The proposals have yet to be considered but it is expected that some of the proposals will be of direct relevance to exposures to RF radiation from base stations.

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the findings of the Commission for Health improvements investigations at the Royal Sussex County hospital, Brighton.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 31 January 2002
	The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) itself publishes the findings of its independent clinical governance reviews, not my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
	We understand that CHI's clinical governance review report for Brighton health care national health service trust which includes the Royal Sussex County hospital will be published shortly.

GP Services (Isle of Sheppey)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisation will be responsible for the GP after hours service on the Isle of Sheppey after the present contract comes to an end.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 31 January 2002
	No decision has yet been made by Swale Primary Care Group on the provision of out of hours general practitioner services when the current arrangement with Healthcall ends in March.

Hospices

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake a review into the way children's hospices are funded with special reference to the funding regime and level of funding given to adult hospices; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The mechanism for obtaining health service funding is essentially the same for children's and adult hospices. There is a process of negotiation between hospice service providers and the commissioners of health services from areas served by individual hospices.
	In some areas, services for children with life threatening illnesses are more developed than in others. Regional offices of the Department are working with health professionals and agencies to review current service provision for children and any gaps in provision with a view to a better strategic fit.
	As we develop the National Service Framework for children we will also consider the needs of disabled children, including those whose disability is sadly, of a life threatening nature and for whom respite care at a children's hospice is the option of choice. In the meantime, and within the next two months, the New Opportunities Fund will invite applications for funding for projects in support of children with life threatening illnesses. Children's hospices are eligible to apply.

Hospices

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when his departmental budget received the new money for hospices announced in the Chancellor's last Budget; when he (a) intends to and (b) has delivered this to hospices, and in what form; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on what date the money he announced for hospices in his last Budget was provided to his Department's budget;
	(3)  when the new money for hospices announced in the last Budget will be paid directly to hospices.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 1 February 2002
	My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's last Budget, on 8 March 2001, did not include an announcement of new money for hospices. Funding to increase investment in specialist palliative care was included in the resources to support implementation of the NHS Cancer Plan. The overall increased investment for implementing the Cancer Plan includes an additional 50 million for specialist palliative care by 2004. This investment is intended to help tackle inequalities in access to specialist palliative care and enable the national health service to increase their contribution to the cost hospices incur in providing agreed levels of service. This will mean that NHS investment in specialist palliative services will match that of the voluntary sector.

Hospices

Nigel Beard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons hospices for children receive less financial support per patient from Government than hospices for adults; and if he will take steps to bring funding for the two into line.

Yvette Cooper: Children's hospices are a relatively new concept in the overall provision of services for children with life threatening illnesses. In some cases the role they play in local provision is not as well established as that of adult hospices. They need to consult with and establish links with the commissioners of health care provision within their catchment area in order to secure funding.
	In order to assist this process, we issued guidance in February 1998, Evaluation of the Pilot Project Programme for Children with Life Threatening Illnesses which addresses the range of options available, including hospice care. In addition, regional offices of the Department have been asked to work with health professionals and agencies to identify current service provision and any gaps in this provision, with a view to encouraging a better strategic fit.
	As we develop the National Service Framework (NSF) for children we will consider the needs of disabled children, including those whose disability is sadly of a life threatening nature and for whom respite care at a children's hospice is the option of choice. In the meantime, and within the next two months, the New Opportunities Fund will be inviting applications for funding for projects in support of children with life threatening illnesses. Children's hospices are eligible to apply.

NHS Structural Reform

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact on Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authority of the structural reforms proposed for the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: With effect from 1 April 2002, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authority (the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authorities were merged in April 2001) will become part of the larger Hampshire and Isle of Wight health authority. Subject to the decision of Parliament, this will become one of 28 new strategic health authorities in October 2002.
	These changes are part of our drive to shift the balance of power to the front line in the national health service. Under them, the responsibilities of the current regional offices of the Department will be devolved to the new health authorities, and those of the current health authorities to primary care trusts.

Organ Donors

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase public awareness of donor cards and the Donor Registry.

Yvette Cooper: There have been numerous wide-ranging initiatives in England to raise the public's awareness of the shortage of organs for transplantation. The Department runs a public information campaign with a current annual budget of 900,000. A public information leaflet, incorporating the organ donor card is widely distributed, and is also available through the organ donor literature line. The campaign is further enhanced by securing free TV airtime for short public information films, a campaign website and partnerships and arrangements with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, The Passport Agency, rotarian clubs, Boots the Chemist and some banks who have chosen organ donation as a cause to support.
	The Department runs a special campaign to raise awareness among members of the Asian community. This includes short TV films featuring well-known Asian personalities and leaflets in various languages. Awareness is also raised by maintaining a presence at cultural and religious events, and by facilitation of debate on this issue at forums set up within Asian communities. Phase three of this campaign was launched in September 2001.
	A similar campaign targeting the African and African- Caribbean communities is planned for launch in spring 2002. The campaign will feature a public information leaflet, targeted advertising and public relations.

Organ Donors

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to encourage councils to include organ donor registration forms in their electoral registration form.

Jacqui Smith: We fully support the initiative by local councils to encourage their local populations to join the national health service organ donor register by including a letter and form with the annual council mailing for the electoral register. The scheme has already proved successful in many areas and we believe that it owes its success to the fact that it is locally inspired and embraces the local community spirit.
	Last year, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of States for Health and for the Home Department wrote jointly to the chairmen of the Association of Electoral Administrators and SOLACE's Electoral Matters Panel inviting them to encourage their members to distribute organ donor leaflets via the electoral canvass. While the Home Secretary has no powers to direct electoral registration officers to send out non-electoral material, the aim is to encourage councils to join this initiative which demonstrates how effective a truly local appeal can be.

Organ Donors

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce an opt-out scheme for organ donorship.

Jacqui Smith: We have no plans to introduce an opt-out scheme for organ donation. We are in the process of undertaking a comprehensive review of the law governing the taking, removal and use of human tissue, and will be issuing a consultation paper shortly.